I1LTER  SHERWOOD' 
PROBATION 


ALGER 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


•ty 


WALTER  SHERWOOD'S 
PROBATION 


OR 


COOL  HEAD  AND  WARM  HEART 


BY 

HORATIO  ALGER,  JR. 

AUTHOR  OF  "ADRIFT  IN  NEW  YORK,"  "THE  STORE  BOY," 

"RAGGED  DICK,"  "NED  NEWTON,"    "JACK'S   WARD," 

"  THE  ERIE  TRAIN  BOY,"  "  SLOW  AND  SURE," 

"LUKE  WALTON,"  ETC. 


NEW  YORK; 
HURST    &    COMPANY 

PUBLISHERS 


ALGER  SERIES  FOR  BOYS. 


UNIFORM  WITH  THIS  VOLUME. 

BY  HORATIO  ALGER,  JR. 


Adrift  in  New  York. 

A  Cousin's  Conspiracy. 

Andy  Gordon. 

Andy  Grant's  Pluck. 

Bob  Burton. 

Bound  to  Rise. 

Brave  and  Bold. 

Cash  Boy. 

Chester  Rand 

Do  and  Dare. 

Driven  from  Home. 

Erie  Train  Boy. 

Facing  the  World. 

Five  Hundred  Dollars. 

Frank's  Campaign. 

Grit. 

Hector's  Inheritance. 

Helping  Himself. 

Herbert  Carter's  Legacy. 

In  a  New  World. 

Jack's  Ward. 

Jed,  the  Poor  House  Boy. 

Joe's  Luck. 

Julius,  the  Street  Boy. 

Luke  Walton. 


Making  His  Way. 
Mark  Mason. 
Only  an  Irish  Boy. 
Paul,  the  Peddler. 
Phil,  the  Fiddler. 
Ralph  Raymond's  Heir. 
Risen  from  the  Ranks. 
Sam's  Chance. 
Shifting  for  Himself. 
Sink  or  Swim. 
Slow  and  Sure. 
Store  Boy. 
Strive  and  Succeed. 
Strong  and  Steady. 
Struggling  Upward. 
Tin  Bex. 

Tom,  the  Bootblack. 
Tony,  the  Tramp. 
Try  and  Trust. 
Wait  and  Hope. 
Walter  Sherwood's  Pro 
bation. 

Young  Acrobat. 
Young  Adventurer. 
Young  Outlaw. 
Young  Salesman. 


Price,   Post-Paid,   350.   each,   or  any  three 
books  for  $1.00. 

HURST  &  COMPANY 
PUBLISHERS,  NEW  YORK. 


WALTER  SHERWOOD'S  PROBATION. 


CHAPTER    I. 

WALTER  SHERWOOD'S  PROBATION. 

HERE'S  a  letter  for  you,  Doctor  Mack,"  said 
the  housekeeper,  as1  she  entered  the  plain  room 
used  as  a  library  and  sitting-room  by  her  em 
ployer,  Doctor  EzekieJ  Mack.  "  It's  from 
Walter,  I  surmise."  This  was  a  favorite  word 
with  Miss  Nancy  Sprague,  who,  though  a 
housekeeper,  prided  herself  on  having  been  a 
schoolmistress  in  her  earlier  days. 

"  Indeed,  Nancy.  Let  me  see  it.  Walter  is 
really  getting  attentive.  His  last  letter  came 
to  hand  only  two  days  since.  He  hasn't  for 
gotten  his  old  guardian." 

"  Oh  no,  sir.  He'll  never  do  that.  He  has 
a  predilection  for  his  old  home.  His  heart  is 
in  the  right  place." 

"  Just  so,  I  wish  I  felt  as  sure  about  his 
head." 


4          Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

Doctor  Mack  adjusted  his  spectacles,  for  he 
was  rising  sixty,  and  his  eyes,  required  assist 
ance,  and  opened  the  letter.  As  he  read  it  his 
forehead  contracted,  and  he  looked  disturbed. 
A  perusal  of  the  letter  may  help  us  to  under 
stand  why.  It  ran  as  follows : 

"  DEAR  GUARDIAN  :  You  will  be  surprised  at 
hearing  from  me  so  soon  again,  but  I  am  really 
forced  to  write.  I  find  college  life  much  more 
expensive  than  I  supposed  it  would  be.  A 
fellow  is  expected  to  join  two  or  three  societies, 
and  each  costs  money.  I  know  you  wouldn't 
have  me  appear  mean.  Then  the  students 
have  been  asked  to  contribute  to  a  fund  for  the 
enlargement  of  the  library,  and  almost  every 
day  there  is  a  demand  for  money  for  one  object 
or  another.  As  it  is  nearly  the  end  of  the  term, 
I  calculate  that  with  a  check  for  an  extra  hun 
dred  dollars  I  can  get  along.  I  am  awfully 
sorry  to  ask  for  it,  but  it  w'll  come  out  of  the 
money  father  left  me,  and  I  am  sure  he  would 
wish  me  to  keep  up  appearances,  and  not  fall 
behind  the  rest  of  the  boys. 

"  I  stand  fairly  well  in  my  studies,  and  I  ex 
pect  to  be  stroke  oar  of  the  college  boat  club. 
Besides  this,  I  have  been  elected  catcher  of 
the  college  baseball  club.  I  am  thought  to 
e.xcel  in  athletic  sports?  and  really  enjoy  my 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.         5 

college  life  very  much.     Please  send  me  the 
check  by  return  of  mail.    Affectionately  yours, 

WALTER." 

Doctor  Mack  laid  the  letter  on  the  table,  and 
slowly  removed  the  glasses  from  his  nose. 

"  One  hundred  dollars ! "  he  repeated. 
"  That  is  the  second  extra  check  he  has  writ 
ten  for,  this  term.  Then  his  regular  term 
bills  will  come  due  in  two  weeks.  He  is  spend 
ing  more  than  three  times  as  much  as  I  did 
when  in  college.  Forty  years  have  made  a 
difference,  no  doubt,  but  not  so  great  a  dif 
ference  as  that.  I  hope  the  boy  isn't  falling 
into  extravagant  habits.  I  care  for  that  more 
than  for  the  money.  His  father  left  a  good 
fortune,  of  which  fact  he  is  unfortunately 
aware,  but  I  don't  mean  that  it  shall  spoil 
him.  Now,  wrhat  shall  I  do?  Shall  I  send 
him  the  check  or  not? 

Doctor  Mack  leaned  back  in  his  chair,  and 
thought  busily.  He  felt  anxious  about  his 
nvard,  who  had  entered  college  early  and  was 
now  only  seventeen.  Walter  Sherwood  was 
a  boy  of  excellent  talent  and  popular  manners, 
but  he  was  inclined  to  be  self-indulgent  and 
had  a  large  capacity  for  "enjoyment."  His 
guardian  had  fondly  hoped  that  he  would  lead 
the  class  in  scholarship,  but  instead  of  this 


6          Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

he  was  only  doing  "  fairly  well  "  in  his  studies. 
To  be  sure,  he  excelled  in  athletic  sports,  but, 
as  Doctor  Mack  reflected,  this  was  not  gener 
ally  considered  the  chief  aim  in  a  college 
course,  except  by  some  of  the  students  them 
selves. 

"  I  wish  I  knew  just  how  Walter  is  making 
out,"  thought  the  doctor.  Then,  after  a  pause, 
he  resumed,  with  a  sudden  inspiration: 
"  Why  shouldn't  I  know?  I'll  go  over  to 
Euclid  to-morrow  without  giving  Walter  any 
intimation  of  my  visit,  and  see  for  myself." 

It  may  be  stated  here  that  Walter  Sher 
wood  was  a  member  of  the  sophomore  class 
in  Euclid  College,  situated  in  the  town  of  the 
same  name.  If  the  reader  does  not  find  Euclid 
in  a  list  of  American  colleges,  it  is  because  for 
special  reasons  I  have  thought  it  best  to  con 
ceal  the  real  name  of  the  college,  not  wishing 
to  bring  the  institution  into  possible  disrepute. 
There  are  some  who  might  misjudge  the  col 
lege,  because  it  contained  some  students  who 
made  an  unprofitable  use  of  their  time. 

"  Nancy,"  said  Doctor  Mack  at  the  supper- 
table,  "  you  may  pack  a  hand-bag  for  me.  I 
shall  start  on  a  journey  to-morrow  morning." 

"  Where  to,  sir,  if  I  may  make  so  bold  as 
to  inquire?" 

"  I  think  of  going  to  Euclid." 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.          7 

"  To  see  Master  Walter?  " 

"  Exactly." 

"  You  haven't  heard  any  bad  news,  I  hope?  '* 
said  the  housekeeper  anxiously. 

"  Oh,  no." 

"Then  he  isn't  sink?" 

"  Quite  the  contrary.  He  is  quite  strong 
and  athletic,  I  should  judge,  from  his  letter." 

"  He  will  be  glad  to  see  you,  sir." 

"  Well,  perhaps  so.  But  you  know,  Nancy, 
young  people  don't  miss  their  parents  and 
guardians  as  much  as  thev  are  missed  at  home. 
They  have  plenty  of  excitement  and  society 
at  college." 

"  Yes,  sir,  that's  true,  but  I'm  sure  Master 
Walter  won't  forget  his  old  home.  If  you 
have  room  for  some  cookies  I  will  put  some 
into  the  bag.  Walter  is  fond  of  them." 

"  JSTo,  I  think  you  needn't  do  it,  Nancy.  He 
has  a  good  boarding-house,  and  no  doubt  he 
gets  all  the  cakes  he  wants.  By  the  way,  I 
want  to  take  the  boy  by  surprise,  so  don't 
write  and  let  him  know  I'm  coming." 

"  No,  sir,  I  won't." 

This  was  exactly  what  the  housekeeper  had 
intended  to  do,  for  she  presumed  upon  her 
long  service  in  the  family  to  write  a  few  lines 
occasionally  to  the  boy  v.  :iom  she  had  known 
from  the  age  of  six. 


8          Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

"  Of  course  I  shall  be  pleased  to  give  him 
any  message  from  you." 

"  Thank  you,  Doctor  Mack.  Tell  him  if  he 
catches  cold  I  can  send  him  some  camomile. 
Camomile  tea  is  excellent  in  such  cases.  My 
mother  and  grandmother  used  it  all  their 
lives." 

"  You  seem  to  forget  -that  I  am  a  doctor, 
Nancy.  Not  that  I  object  -to  camomile  tea — 
in  its  place — though  I  can  truly  say  that  I 
never  hankered  after  it." 

"  How  long  wiU  you  be  gone,  *doctor?  " 

"  I  can't  say  exactly.  You  see  Euclid  is 
nearly  two  hundred  miles  off,  and  I  don't 
know  whether  I  can  make  connections." 

"  Oh,  well,  don't  .hurry !  No  -doubt  Walter 
will  want  to  keep  you  with  him  us  long  as 
possible." 

"  I  don't  feel  so  sure  of  that,"  thought  the 
doctor  shrewdly.  "  Boys  are  not  usually  so 
fond  of  the  society  of  their  guardians,  though 
I  don't  doubt  Walter  has  a  sincere  regard  for 
me.  He  is  a  warm-hearted  boy." 

Doctor  Mack  was  no  longer  in  active  prac 
tice.  Three  years  before  he  had  selected  an 
assistant — a  young  Doctor  Winthrop — in 
whom  his  patients  had  come  to  feel  confidence, 
so  that  when  he  wanted  to  go  away  for  a  few 
days  there  was  no  serious  objection.  Unlike 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.         9 

some  elderly  practitioners,  Doctor  Mack  did 
not  feel  in  the  least  jealous  of  bis  young  as 
sistant,  but  was  very  glad  to  note  his  popu 
larity. 

"  If  any  one  calls  for  me,  Nancy,"  he  said, 
"say  that  I  am  away  for  a  day  or  two,  and  they 
can't  do  better  than  go  to  Doctor  Winthrop." 

"  There  are  some  that  like  you  best,  sir." 

"  No  doubt,  no  doubt!  They're  used  to  me, 
you  know.  There's  a  good  deal  in  that.  Any 
that  please  can  wait  for  me,  but  my  advice  to 
them  is  to  go  to  Doctor  Winthrop." 

Nancy  packed  the  doctor's  hand-bag,  put 
ting  in  a  change  of  linen,  a  cornb  and  brush, 
an  extra  pair  of  socks,  and  a  couple  of  hand 
kerchiefs.  Then,  seeing  that  there  was  plenty 
of  room,  she  slipped  in  a  small  box  of  cookies 
and  a  little  camomile.  The  doctor  discovered 
them  soon  after  he  started  on  his  journey,  and 
with  a  smile  tossed  the  camomile  out  of  the 
window,  while  he  gave  the  cookies  to  a  poor 
woman  who  was  traveling  with  a  couple  of 
small  children  in  the  same  car  as  himself. 
So  that  Nancy  Sprague's  though tfulness  was 
not  wholly  lost,  though  the  intended  recipient 
did  not  benefit  by  it. 

Doctor  Mack  had  to  wait  over  at  a  junc 
tion  for  three  hours,  owing  to  some  irregulari 
ties  of  the  trains,  and  did  not  reach  Euclid 


io        Walter  Sherwood's  probation. 

• 
till  rather  a  late  hour  in  the  afternoon.     He 

went  to  the  Euclid  Hotel,  and  entered  his 
name. 

E.  MACK,  Albany, 

without  adding  M.  D.,  and  substituting  Albany 
for  the  small  village,  thirty  miles  away,  where 
he  made  his  home. 

"Strategy,  doctor,  strategy!"  he  said  to 
himself.  "  I  have  come  to  spy  out  the  land, 
and  must  not  make  myself  too  conspicuous. 
I  am  traveling,  as  it  were,  incognito." 


CHAPTER    II. 

DOCTOR  MACK  GETS  SOME  INFORMATION. 

THE  Euclid  Hotel  was  distant  about  half- 
a-inile  from  the  college  buildings.  It  would 
hardly  have  paid  expenses  but  for  the  patron 
age  it  received  from  the  parents  and  friends  of 
the  students,  who,  especially  on  public  occa 
sions,  wrere  drawn  to  visit  Euclid,  and  natur 
ally  put  up  at  the  hotel.  Then  the  students, 
tired  perhaps  of  the  fare  at  the  college  com 
mons,  dropped  in  often  and  ordered  a  dinner. 
So,  take  it  all  in  allt  Euclid  Hotel  benefited 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.        n 

largely  by  the  presence  of  the  college.  Xo 
students',  however,  were  permitted  to  board 
there,  as  it  was  thought  by  the  college  pro 
fessors  that  the  atmosphere  of  the  hotel  would 
be  detrimental  to  college  discipline  and  the 
steady  habits  they  desired  to  inculcate  in  the 
young  men  under  their  care. 

"  I  wonder,"  thought  Doctor  Mack,  after 
supper  was  over,  "  whether  I  had  better  go 
round  to  the  college  and  make  an  evening  call 
on  Walter." 

He  was  tempted  do  so,  for  he  was  fond  of 
his  young  ward,  and  would  have  enjoyed  see 
ing  him.  But  then  he  wished,  unobserved,  to 
judge  for  himself  whether  Walter  was  mak 
ing  good  use  of  his  privileges,  and  this  made 
it  injudicious  for  him  to  disclose  his  presence 
in  the  college  town. 

He  strolled  out  into  the  tavern  yard,  and 
observed  a  young  man  engaged  in  some  light 
duties. 

"  Good  evening,  sir,"  said  the  young  man 
respectfully. 

"  Good  evening.  I  suppose  you  are  con 
nected  with  the  hotel?" 

"  Yes,  sir ;  but  I  would  rather  be  connected 
with  the  college." 

"  Then  you  have  a  taste  for  study?  " 

"Yes,  sir;  I  began  to  prepare  for  college, 


12        Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

and  had  made  some  progress  in  Latin  and 
Greek  when  my  father  died,  and  that  put  an 
end  to  my  prospects." 

"  That  was  a  pity.  Has  it  destroyed  your 
taste  for  study?  " 

"  No ;  I  spend  an  hour  after  I  am  through 
work  in  keeping  up  my  Latin  and  Greek,  but 
of  course  I  make  slow  progress." 

"  Naturally.  Now  I  have  no  doubt  there 
are  many  students  who  do  not  appreciate  their 
privileges  as  much  as  you  would  do." 

"  I  know  it,  sir.  There  are  pretty  lively 
boys  in  college.  Have  you  a  son  there?  " 

"  No." 

"  I  didn't  know  but  you  might  have." 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  lively?  " 

"  I  mean  they  care  more  to  have  a  good 
time  than  to  get  on  in  their  studies." 

"What  do  they  do?" 

"  WTell,  some  of  them  belong  to  societies1,  and 
have  a  good  time  whenever  they  meet.  Fre 
quently  they  give  little  suppers1  at  the  hotel 
here,  and  keep  it  up  till  a  late  hour." 

"  Do  the  faculty  know  of  this?  " 

"  They  may  surmise  something,  but  they 
don't  interfere.  Of  course  it  pays  Mr.  Daniels, 
the  landlord,  for  he  charges  a  good  round  sum, 
and  as  there  is  no  other  place  for  the  boys  to 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.        13 

go,  they  must  pay  it.  There's  going  to  be  a 
supper  here  to-night." 

"  Indeed ! " 

"  It  is  given  by  one  of  the  sophomores, 
Walter  Sherwood." 

"  What  name  did  you  mention?  "  asked  Doc 
tor  Mack,  startled. 

"Walter  Sherwood.     Do  you  know  him?" 

"  I  know  a  family  by  the  name  of  Sher 
wood,"  answered  Doctor  Mack  evasively. 
"  What  sort  of  a  young  man  is  he?  " 

"  I  don't  call  him  a  young  man.  He  is  only 
seventeen  or  eighteen,  one  of  the  youngest 
members  of  the  class.  He  is1  very  popular 
among  his  mates — a  regular  jolly  boy  he  is." 

"  Does  he  stand  well  in  his  scholarship?" 

The  young  man  laughed. 

"  I  don't  think  he  troubles  himself  much 
about  his  studies,"  he  replied,  "  from  all  I 
hear,  but  he  is  pretty  smart,  learns  easily,  and 
manages  to  keep  up  respectably." 

Doctor  Mack's  heart  sank  within  him.  Was 
this1  the  best  that  could  be  said  about  his  ward? 
the  son  of  his  old  friend? 

"  Do  you  think  he  is  dissipated?  "  he  asked 
uneasily. 

"  Not  that  I  ever  heard.  He  is  fond  of  hav 
ing  a  good  time,  and  drinks  wine  at  his  sup 
pers,  but  lie  isn't  what  you  would  call  in- 


14        Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

temperate.  He  would  do  better  work  in  col 
lege  if  he  wasn't  so  rich." 

"So  he  is  rich,  then?" 

."  He  must  be,  for  he  spends  a  good  deal  of 
money.  Pendleton,  one  of  his  classmates,  told 
me  that  he  spent  more  money  than  any  one  in 
the  class." 

"  That  is  why  he  needs  so  many  extra 
checks,"  thought  the  guardian  soberly. 

"  I  am  sorry  he  doesn't  make  better  use  of 
his  privileges,"  he  said  aloud. 

"  Yes,  sir,  it  is  a  pity.  If  he  didn't  care  so 
much  for  a  good  time  he  might  stand  at  the 
head  of  his  class — so  Pendleton  thinks." 

"If  he  were  a  poor  boy,  now,  you  think  the 
result  would  be  different? "  asked  Doctor 
Mack  thoughtfully. 

"  Yes,  sir,  I  have  no  doubt  of  it." 

"  When  does   the  supper  commence? " 

"  At  half-past  eight  o'clock." 

"  How  long  will  it  keep  up?  " 

"  Till  near  midnight.  The  landlord  makes  it 
a  point  to  have  them  close  before  twelve.  I 
hope  they  won't  disturb  you,  sir." 

"  Are  they  likely  to  make  much  noise?  " 

"  Well,  sir,  they  make  speeches,  and  do  a 
good  deal  of  singing.  Then,  college  songs  are 
naturally  noisy." 

"  Yes,  so  I  hear," 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.        15 

"What  is  the  number  of  your  room?" 

"  Number  nine." 

"  Why,  you  are  nearly  opposite  the  room 
where  they  will  have  their  supper.  I  am  afraid 
you  won't  stand  much  chance  of  sleeping 
early." 

"Oh,  never  mind!  I  shall  get  an  idea  of 
what  a  college  supper  is  like." 

"  So  you  will.  If  you  open  the  transom  over 
your  door  you  will  have  the  full  benefit  of  all 
that  goes  on." 

"  That  will  suit  me  very  well,"  thought 
Doctor  Mack. 

"If  you  would  like  to  be  farther  away,  the 
landlord  would  no  doubt  change  your 
room." 

"  Oh,  no !  "  said  the  doctor  hastily.  "  It  will 
suit  me  very  well  for  once  to  listen  to  college 
songs,  and  get  an  idea  of  how  boys  enjoy  them 
selves.-' 

"  A  very  sensible  old  gentleman !  "  thought 
James  Holden.  "  Some  men  of  his  age  would 
make  a  fuss." 

A  little  before  the  time  when  the  students 
were  expected  to  arrive  Doctor  Mack  shut 
himself  up  in  his  room,  taking  care  to  open  the 
transom.  He  had  ascertained  from  the  young 
man,  his  informant,  that  supper  had  been  en 
gaged  for  twelve,  and  that  the  price 


1 6        Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

per  plate  was  two  dollars  and  a  half,  all  to 
be  paid  by  Walter  Sherwood. 

"  That  makes  thirty  dollars,"  he  reflected. 
"  No  wonder  Walter  writes  for  extra  checks. 
I  wonder  if  this  thirty  dollars  is  to  figure  as 
a  contribution  to  the  library." 

From  his  window  he  could  see  the  students 
as  they  approached  the  hotel.  Finally  he 
caught  sight  of  Walter,  with  a  college  friend 
on  each  side,  with  whom  he  was  chatting  gaily. 

"What  a  change!"  thought  Doctor  Mack. 
"  It  seems  only  yesterday  that  Walter  started 
for  college,  a  bashful,  unformed  boy,  full  of 
good  resolutions,  and  determined  to  distin 
guish  himself  in  scholarship.  Now  he  has 
become  a  gay  butterfly.  And  what  is  worse, 
he  has  learned  to  deceive  his  old  guardian,  and 
his  chief  aim  seems  to  be  to  have  a  good  time. 
What  can  I  do  to  change  his  course?  " 

The  good  doctor's  face  assumed  a  thoughtful 
look. 

"  I  can  tell  better  after  what  I  shall  hear  to 
night,"  he  said  to  himself. 

It  was  not  long  before  the  guests  were  all 
assembled,  and  the  feast  wras  to  begin. 

Some  one  rapped  for  attention,  and  then 
Doctor  Mack  recognized  the  voice  of  his  young 
ward. 

"  Gentlemen,"  he  said,  "  I  am  glad  to  wel- 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.        17 

come  you  to  this  festal  board.  After  spending 
ten  or  a  dozen  hours  in  hard  study  " — laughter 
and  applause — "  we  find  it  pleasant  to  close 
our  books,  to  relax  our  learned  brows  "  —  more 
laughter — "  and  show  our  appreciation  of  the 
good  things  of  life.  As  Horace,  your  favorite, 
says — I  won't  insult  you  by  offering  to  trans 
late  his  well-known  words — <  Dulcc  est  desi- 
pere  in  Zoco.'  That  is  what  has  brought  us 
here  to-night.  We  want  to  desipere  in  loco" 

"  So  we  do !  Good  for  you ! "  exclaimed  one 
and  another. 

"  I  regret,"  Walter  continued,  "  that  all  the 
professors  have  declined  my  urgent  invitation 
to  be  present  on  this  occasion.  Professor 
Griggs "•  —the  professor  of  mathematics— 
"  said  he  would  not  break  away  from  his  regu 
lar  diet  of  logarithms  and  radicals."  Great 
laughter.  "  I  have  expressly  requested  Mr. 
Daniels  to  provide  no  logarithms  to-night. 
They  don't  agree  with  my  constitution." 

"Nor  with  mine!"  "Nor  with  mine!" 
echoed  one  and  another. 

"  I  shall  expect  you  all,  after  the  banquet,  to 
do  something  for  the  general  entertainment. 
I  stipulate,  however,  that  none  of  the  company 
address  us  in  Latin  or  Greek. — "We  wont!" 
"  We  won't !  "  — "  Sufficient  for  the  recitation- 
room  is  the  evil  thereof.  But  I  have  spoken 


1 8        Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

long  enough.  There  are  times  when  silence  is 
golden,  and  one  of  those  times  is  at  hand. 
Brethren,  the  feast  awaits  you  !  Pitch  in  !  " 

The  speaker  took  his  seat,  and  then  there 
was  a  noise  of  clinking  glasses,  and  knives  and 
forks  came  to  the  front.  The  banquet  had  be 
gun. 


CHAPTER  III. 

A  COLLEGE  BANQUET. 

THERE  was  a  rattling  of  knives  and  forks, 
a  clink  of  glasses,  and  a  buzz  of  conversation. 
Doctor  Mack  was  able  to  hear  considerable  of 
it.  There  were  anecdotes  of  the  professors, 
accounts  of  narrow  escapes  from  "  flunking '' 
in  the  recitation-room,  and  remarks  by  no 
means  complimentary  to  some  of  the  text 
books  in  use  in  college.  It  was  evident  that 
the  collegians  assembled  cared  more  for  a  good 
time  than  for  study.  Yet  these  seemed  to  be 
the  chosen  associates  of  his  ward,  the  doctor 
reflected. 

As  the  feast  proceeded,  he  grew  more  sober. 
lie  felt  that  college  life,  however  much  it  was 
doing  for  the  faithful  students,  was  only  fos 
tering  self-indulgence  in  his  ward. 

"Something  must  be  done!"  reflected  Doc- 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.        19 

tor  Mack.  "  Desperate  diseases  require  des 
perate  remedies." 

Again  the  chairman  rapped  for  order,  and 
again  Walter's  voice  was  heard. 

"  Brothers,"  he  said,  "  the  material  part  of 
our  banquet  is  ended.  We  have  gratified  our 
appetites  with  the  savory  dishes  provided  by 
our  friend  Daniels.  We  have  quaffed  the  rare 
Falernian  wine,  of  a  vintage  unknown  to 
Horace;  we  have  quickened  our  wits,  as  I 
trust,  under  those  favorable  conditions,  and 
the  time  has  now  come  for  the  feast  of  reason 
and  the  flow  of  soul.  Exhausted  as  we  are  by 
our  labors  in  the  class-room  *'  —great  laughter 
— "  we  have  sought  refreshment  in  the  waj 
that  is  most  agreeable.  It's  a  way  we  lum 
at  old  Euclid!  Sing!" 

Immediately  the  assembled  company  started 
up  the  well-known  college  song: 

"  It's  a  way  we  have  at  old  Euclid, 
It's  a  way  we  have  at  old  Euclid, 
It's  a  way  we  have  at  old  Euclid, 

To  drive  dull  care  away. 
It's  a  way  we  have  at  old  Euclid, 
It's  a  way  we  have  at  old  Euclid, 

To  drive  dull  care  away. 

"  And  we  think  it  is  no  sin,  sir, 
To  take  the  Freshmen  in,  sir, 
And  ease  them  of  their  tin,  sir, 
To  drive  dull  care  away. 


2o        Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

It's  a  way  we  have  at  old  Euclid. 

It's  a  way  we  have  at  old  Euclid, 

To  drive  dull  care  away." 

There  were  other  verses,  but  these  will  serve 
as  specimens'.  All  joined  in  the  chorus,  and 
Doctor  Mack,  who  remembered  his  own  col 
lege  life,  felt  almost  tempted  to  add  his  voice 
to  those  of  the  young  men  in  the  opposite 
room. 

"  But,  pshaw !  "  he  thought.  "  What  would 
Walter  and  his  friends  think  to  hear  an  old 
graybeard  like  me  taking  part  in  the  convivial 
songs?  There  is  no  great  harm  in  singing  col 
lege  songs,  if  it  is  accompanied  by  good  work 
in  the  recitation-room." 

"  Brothers,"  resumed  Walter,  "  we  will  do 
our  best  to  drive  dull  care  away.  Let  us  for 
get,  this  happy  evening,  that  there  are  such 
things  as  logarithms,  and  sines,  and  tangents, 
and  Greek  tragedies.  To-night  our  hearts 
shall  be  uplifted  by  sentiment  and  song. 
Brother  Corbett,  you  will  oblige  us  with 
1  Rumsty  Ho ! '  " 

A  young  man  with  a  pleasant  voice  sang 
this  song,  one  unfamiliar  to  the  doctor: 

"  A  beggar  man  laid  himself  down  to  sleep, 

Rumsty  Ho  !  rumsty  Ho  ; 
A  beggar  man  laid  himself  down  to  sleep 
By  the  banks  of  the  Mersey,  so  high  and  steep, 
Rumsty  Ho,  rumsty  Ho  I 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.        21 

"  Two  thieves  came  walking  by  that  way, 

Rumsty  Ho  !  rumsty  Ho  ; 
Two  thieves  came  walking  by  that  way, 
And  they  came  to  the  place  where  the  old  man  lay, 

Rumsty  Ho,  rumsty  Ho  ! 

"  They  stole  his  wallet  and  they  stole  his  staff, 

Rumsty  Ho  !  rumsty  Ho  ; 
They  stole  his  wallet  aud  they  stole  his  staff, 
And  then  broke  out  in  a  great  horse-laugh, 

Rumsty  Ho,  rumsty  Ho." 

There  was  more  of  this  song,  too.  Next 
came  "  Crambambuli,"  and  then  "  Cocach- 
lunk,"  both  of  which  were  familiar  to  the 
doctor. 

Then  Walter  said :  "  Brothers,  I  have  great 
pleasure  in  stating  that  Professor  Griggs  has 
concluded  to  honor  our  dinner  by  his  learned 
presence,  and  has  consented  to  address  us. 
Permit  me  to  introduce  Professor  Theophilus 
Griggs." 

One  of  the  company  had  made  up  as  the 
mathematical  professor.  In  a  nasal  tone  he 
made  a  rambling  speech,  in  which  he  intro 
duced  mathematical  illusions,  and  used  some 
of  the  favorite  phrases  of  the  rather  dull  and 
prosy  instructor,  with  whom  all  the  students 
were  familiar,  some  to  their  sorrow.  It 
seemed  to  be  very  amusing  to  the  boys  present, 
as  shown  by  their  hearty  laughter,  but  of 
course  Doctor  Mack  could  not  appreciate  it. 

Other  songs  and  other  speeches  followed. 


22         Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

Though  for  the  most  part  college  songs,  there 
were  some  of  a  more  serious  character.  Time 
slipped  by,  and  at  length  Doctor  Mack  saw  by 
his  watch  that  it  was  half-past  eleven. 

"  How  long  will  they  keep  it  up,  I  wonder?  " 
he  asked  himself.  "  I  feel  drowsy." 

He  was  answered  by  the  chairman. 

"  Brothers,"  he  said,  "  time  waits  for  no 
man.  The  hour  has  arrived  when,  according 
to  agreement,  we  must  wind  up  our  festivi 
ties.  Hand  in  hand  we  will  sing  '  Auld  Lang 
Syne/  hoping,  at  some  auspicious  season  after 
the  coming  vacation  is  over,  to  have  another 
good  time.  I  thank  you  all  for  accepting  my 
invitation,  and  hope  you  have  enjoyed  your 
selves." 

"  Three  cheers  for  Sherwood ! "  cried  one 
of  the  company. 

They  were  given  with  a  will.  Then  the  part 
ing  song  was  sung,  and  the  students  retired 
to  their  rooms  in  one  of  the  college  dormi 
tories. 

Doctor  Mack  went  thoughtfully  to  bed. 

"  It  is  well  I  came,"  he  reflected.  "  Walter 
has  done  nothing  decidedly  wrong  as  yet,  but 
it  is  evident  he  is  not  improving." 

"  Well,"  said  James  Holden,  as  he  met  Doc 
tor  Mack  the  next  morning,  "  did  you  hear  the 
boys  last  night?  " 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.        23 

"  I  couldn't  very  well  help  it/'  answered  the 
doctor,  smiling.  "  That  young  Sherwood 
seems  to  be  very  popular." 

"  Yes,  sir;  he  is  very  free  with  his  money." 

"In  what  other  way  does  he  spend  it?  " 

"  Mr.  Daniels  keeps  half-a-dozen  horses  to 
let  to  students  and  others.  Sherwood  hires 
a  team  at  least  twice  a  week,  and  of  course 
it  counts  up." 

"  I  was  not  able  to  spend  money  in  that  way 
•when  I  attended  college." 

"  Then  you  are  a  college  graduate?  "  said 
Holden. 

"  Yes." 

"Did  you  graduate  at  Euclid?" 

"  No;  I  am  a  Yale  man." 

"  I  congratulate  you,  sir.  I  should  like  to 
graduate  from  Yale." 

"  I  hope  you  may,  some  time,  my  young 
friend.  You  would  derive  more  benefit,  I'll  be 
bound,  than  those  young  roysterers  of  last 
evening." 

"  I  hope  they  didn't  keep  you  awake,  sir." 

"  They  certainly  did  as  long  as  they  stayed. 
I  should  have  gone  to  bed  soon  afterward,  but 
that  I  had  something  on  my  mind.  By  the 
way,  don't  mention  to  any  of  the  students  that 
they  had  an  unseen  listener," 

"  No,  sir." 


24        Walter  Sherwood's  Probation, 

Doctor  Mack  took  the  first  train  after  break 
fast,  and  returned  to  his  home  without  seeing 
his  ward. 

Nancy  Sprague  questioned  him  eagerly. 

"  And  how  is  Master  Walter?  "  she  asked. 

"Very  well,  indeed,  Nancy." 
{  *'  Was  he  surprised  to  see  you?  " 

'"  He  didn't  see  me,  Nancy." 

'"  He  didn't  see  you ! "  ejaculated  the  house 
keeper. 

"No;  the  fact  was,  I  went  away  on  a 
matter  of  business,  and  it  was  not  convenient 
to  call  on  Walter.  But  I  heard  him." 

"  I  don't  see  how  you  could  have  been  near 
him  without  seeing  him." 

"  I  shall  see  him  soon,  Nancy,  and  so  will 
you.  In  two  weeks  vacation  will  be  here.  Ex 
aminations  are  near,  and  I  might  have  inter 
fered  with  his  studies,"  the  doctor  added, 
with  a  little  innocent  evasion. 

"  To  be  sure,  sir !  To  be  sure !  I  make  no 
doubt  Master  Walter  is  a  great  scholar." 

"  I  have  very  strong  doubts  on  that  point ; 
myself,"  thought  Doctor  Mack,  but  he  did  not 
care  to  express  himself  thus  to  Nancy. 

"  I  am  so  glad  the  dear  boy  is  coming  home 
soon,"  murmured  the  housekeeper.  "  He  has 
been  studying  so  hard  he  needs  a  good  long 
rest.  I  will  make  some  cookies  expressly  for 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.        25 

him  after  he  conies.     I  don't  believe  he  gets 
any  at  college." 

"  I  wonder  what  Nancy  would  say  if  she 
could  have  seen  Walter  presiding  at  the  sup 
per,  and  heard  the  songs ! "  thought  Doctor- 
Mack. 


CHAPTER    IV. 

THE  DAY  AFTER  THE  FEAST. 

THE  same  morning,  in  a  comfortably  furn 
ished  room  in  Simpson  Hall,  sat,  or  rather 
lounged,  Walter  Sherwood. 

"  I  feel  sleepy  this  morning,  Gates,"  he  said 
to  his  chum.  "  I  can't  fix  my  mind  on  this 
confounded  logic." 

"  No  wonder,  Sherwood.  You  have  good 
reason  to  be  tired  after  last  evening." 

"  That's  so !  We  had  a  good  time,  though. 
I  am  sorry  you  couldn't  accept  my  invitation." 

"  I  couldn't  afford  it,  Sherwood.  You  know 
we  are  very  differently  situated.  You  are  rich, 
while  I  am  the  oldest  son  of  a  country  minis 
ter  with  all  I  can  do  to  get  through  college. 
As  it  is,  I  shall  be  in  debt." 

"  Why  not  be  in  debt  to  me?  You  never 
would  accept  anything  from  me." 

"Yes,  I  did.    I  have  let  you  go  to  the  en- 


26        Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

tire  expense  of  furnishing  this  room,  though 
I  have  an  equal  share  in  it." 

"  Oh,  that's  nothing !  You  pay  me  in  help 
ing  me  through  my  lessons  when  I  am  behind. 
If  you  hadn't  read  my  Horace  to  me  the  other 
day  I  should  have  flunked  as  sure  as  can  be." 

"  It  would  be  better  for  you  to  get  yonr  own 
lesson,  Walter." 

"  Well,  I  suppose  it  would,"  answered  his 
roommate  yawning.  "  I  wish  you  could  drive 
this  logic  into  my  head.  I  suppose  I  am  un 
usually  stupid  this  morning." 

"  Suppose  we  go  over  it  together." 

Fifteen  minutes  later  Walter  said  compla 
cently  :  "  Thanks',  old  fellow ;  you  have  made 
it  as  plain  as  a  pikestaff." 

"  And  very  likely  you  will  get  a  higher  mark 
at  the  recitation  than  I." 

"  Well,  perhaps  so,"  laughed  Walter.  "  I 
suppose  it  is  because  I  have  more  cheek  than 
you." 

"  You  can  do  better  on  slight  preparation, 
certainly.  You  talk  like  a  professor  when  you 
are  on  your  feet." 

"  You  want  to  be  a  professor  some  time, 
Gates,  don't  you?  " 

"  Yes,"  answered  his  chum,  his  face  flush 
ing.  "  I  should  be  proud  to  become  a  profes 
sor  in  old  Euclid." 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.        27 

"  It  would  be  awfully  slow,  I  think,"  re 
turned  Walter,  stifling  a  yawn. 

"  What,  then,  is  your  ambition?  " 

"  I  want  to  go  out  among  men.  I  want  to 
take  an  active  part  in  the  world." 

"  You  will  have  to  '.vork  harder  than  you  do 
in  college,  then." 

"  I  suppose  I  shall.  But  I  am  young,  Gates. 
I  am  only  seventeen." 

"  And  I  am  nineteen,  and  look  twenty-one." 

"All  the  better!  The  older  you  look  the 
better,  if  you  are  going  to  be  a  college  in 
structor.  I  would  have  to  wait  a  long  time 
if  I  wanted  to,  even  if  I  were  a  good  deal  wiser 
than  I  am  now.  I  am  so  young,  in  short,  that 
I  can  afford  to  have  a  good  time." 

"  It  seems  to  me  that  is  all  you  think  of, 
Sherwood." 

^Oh,  well,  I'll  reform  in  time  and  become 
a  sober  old  duffer  like  you,"  and  Walter  Sher 
wood  laughed  carelessly. 

"  I  hope,  at  any  rate,  that  you  will  change 
your  views  of  life.  You  know  what  Long 
fellow  says :  '  Life  is  real !  Life  is  earnest ! ' 

"  Oh,  yes.  I  know  that  by  heart.  But  it's 
no  use,  Gates,  you  can't  make  an  old  man  of 
me  before  my  time.  Will  ?t  disturb  you  if  I 
play  a  tune  or  two  on  my  violin?" 

"Well,  to  tell  the  truth,  it  will.    I  want  to 


28        Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

get  my  Greek  lesson,  and  you  had  better  do 
the  same." 

"  No,  I  will  read  a  novel,  and  you  can  read 
over  the  Greek  to  me  when  you  have  dug  it 
out." 

"  I  will  if  you  wish,  but  I  am  afraid  I  am 
spoiling  you  by  doing  your  studying  for  you." 

"  Remember,    I    was   out   late   last  night." 

"  You  have  something  almost  every  evening, 
Walter." 

"  Oh,  well,  I'll  turn  over  a  new  leaf  next 
term." 

"  Why  not  begin  now?  " 

"  If  you  knew  how  stupid  I  feel  you 
wouldn't  ask." 

Walter  stretched  himself  out  on  a  comfort 
able  lounge,  and  took  up  a  new  novel  which  he 
had  partially  read,  while  Gates  spread  the 
big  Greek  lexicon  on  the  study-table,  and,  open 
ing  his  Aristophanes,  began  slowly  and  la 
boriously  to  translate  it  into  English. 

Fifteen  minutes  passed  when  a  knock  was 
heard  at  the  door. 

"  Come  in !  "  called  out  Walter. 

He  looked  up  eagerly,  hoping  the  visitor 
might  prove  to  be  one  of  his  jovial  comrades 
of  the  night  before.  But  he  did  not  look  so 
well  pleased  when,  as  the  door  opened,  he 
caught  sight  of  the  pudgy  figure  and  shrewd 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.        29 

face  of  Elijah  Daniels,  the  proprietor  of  the 
Euclid  Hotel. 

"  Good  morning,  Mr.  Daniels,"  he  said, 
rather  apprehensively.  "  So  you  have  found 
me  out." 

"  No,  I  have  found  you  in,"  returned  the 
landlord,  with  a  smile.  "  I  hope  I  don't  in 
trude  upon  your  studies,  young  gentlemen.'' 

"  Well,  I  am  taking  a  little  rest  from  my 
labors,"  said  Walter. 

"  You  were  up  rather  late  last  evening,  Mr. 
Sherwood." 

"  That's  a  fact,  and  you  gave  us  a  first-class 
supper,  Daniels.  You  did  yourself  proud." 

"  I  did  my  best,  Mr.  Sherwood,  and  I  am 
glad  you  were  satisfied.'' 

"  All  the  fellows  praised  the  supper." 

"  That's  good.  I  know  what  you  young 
gentlemen  like,  and  I  get  it,  no  matter  what 
it  costs.  I  don't  make  much  on  the  suppers 
I  give  the  college  boys,  but  of  course  I  like  to 
please  them." 

•'  Your  price  is  quite  reasonable,  I  think." 

"  I  am  glad  you  do.  I  have  brought  in  the 
bill  for  last  night's  entertainment,  and  if  you 
can  let  me  have  the  money,  I  shall  be  glad." 

"  Well,  the  fact  is,  Daniels,  I  haven't  got 
the  money  by  me  this  morning." 

The  landlord's  countenance  changed. 


30        Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

"  I  like  prompt  pay/'  he  said.  "  It  is  a  good 
deal  of  trouble,  and,  as  I  said,  there  isn't 
much  money  to  be  made." 

"That's  all  right.  You  won't  have  to  wait 
long." 

"  How  long,  Mr.  Sherwood?  " 

"  I  expect  a  check  for  a  hundred  dollars 
from  my  guardian  to-day.  I  wrote  three  day;^ 
since,  for  I  knew  you  wouldn't  like  to  wait." 

"  A  hundred  dollars ! "  repeated  the  land 
lord,  feeling  a  little  easier  in  mind. 

"  Yes." 

"  Perhaps  your  guardian  may  object  to 
sending  it." 

"  Oh,  no !     He's  a  nice  old  fellow,  Doctor 
Mack  is.     He  is  very  indulgent." 
"  What  name  did  you  mention?  " 
"  Doctor  Mack.     Ebenezer  Mack." 
"  Indeed !    Why,  we  had  a  gentleman  stop 
ping  at  the  hotel  last  night  of  that  name." 

"  What !  "  ejaculated  Walter,  in  astonish 
ment.  "  Do  you  mean  to  tell  me  that  Doc-tor 
Mack — my  guardian — was  at  the  hotel  last 
night?  It  can't  be.  He  would  have  called  on 
me." 

"  It  may  not  have  been  the  same  man.  Now 
I  come  to  think  of  it,  he  didn't  put  himself 
down  on  the  book  Doctor  Mack.  He  just  put 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.        31 

himself  down  E.  Mack.  He  seemed  a  plain 
sort  of  man." 

"Where  did  he  register  from?"  asked 
Walter  eagerly. 

"  From  Albany." 

"Is  he  at  the  hotel  now?" 

"  He  went  away  by  the  morning  train." 

"  Then  it  couldn't  have  been  he,"  said  Wal 
ter,  in  a  tone  of  relief.  "  He  doesn't  live  in 
Albany.  Besides,  he  would  have  called  on  me. 
No,  it  must  have  been  some  other  Mack." 

"  Perhaps  you  wouldn't  have  liked  to  have 
him  catch  you  at  a  gay  supper,  Mr.  Sher 
wood?"  said  the  landlord  shrewdly. 

"  Well,  no,  I'd  a  little  rather  receive  him  in 
my  room,  with  a  book  open  before  me." 

"  He  might  object  to  pay  out  money  for  such 
doings." 

"  He  won't  know  anything  about  it.  Just 
leave  your  bill,  Mr.  Daniels,  and  as  soon  as  I 
get  the  check  I'll  call  round  and  pay  it." 

"  There's  another  bill,  too,  a  livery  bill.  I 
brought  that  along,  too." 

"  How  much  is  it?  "  asked  Walter  anxiously. 

"  Eighteen  dollars." 

"  I  didn't  think  it  was  as  much  as  that !  " 

"  Bills  mount  up  faster  than  you  young  gen 
tlemen  think  for.  I  suppose,  however,  you 
can  afford  to  pay  it?  " 


32        Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

"  Oh,  yes !  "  said  Walter  carelessly. 

"  Your  uncle  may  think  it  rather  steep,  eh?  " 

"  I  wrote  him  that  I  had  some  extra  ex 
penses  this  time." 

"  Then  I  suppose  you  can't  do  anything  for 
me  this  morning?  " 

"  No,  Daniels ;  just  leave  both  bills,  and  I 
feel  quite  sure  that  I  can  pay  you  in  a  day  or 
two.  I  suppose  you  can  change  a  check?  " 

"  I'll  manage  to." 

The  landlord  retired,  leaving  the  bills  be 
hind  him. 

"  Do  you  know,  Sherwood,"  said  his  chum 
gravely,  "  I  think  you  are  foolishly  extrava 
gant." 

"  Well,  perhaps  I  am." 

"  You  are  spending  three  times  as  much  as 
I  am." 

"  I'll  do  better  next  term.  I  wish  my  guard 
ian  would  hurry  along  that  check." 

Two  days  later  a  letter  came  for  Walter  in 
the  familiar  handwriting  of  Doctor  Mack.  He 
tore  it  open  hastily,  and  as  he  read  it  he 
turned  pale  and  sank  into  a  chair. 

"  What's  the  matter?  "  asked  Gates. 

"  Matter  enough !  "  answered  Walter,  in  a 
hollow  voice.  "  My  money  is  lost,  and  I've  got 
to  leave  college !  " 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.        33 


CHAPTER  V. 

WALTER  TAKES  MATTERS  PHILOSOPHICALLY. 

WALTER'S  announcement,  recorded  at  the 
close  of  the  preceding  chapter,  fell  like  a 
thunderbolt  on  his  roommate. 

"  You  have  lost  your  money? "  repeated 
Gates,  in  a  tone  of  incredulity.  "  You  don't 
mean  it! " 

"Read  that  letter,  Gates,"  said  Walter, 
pushing  it  over  to  his  chum. 

The  letter  was,  of  course,  from  Doctor 
Mack,  and  ran  thus: 

"  DEAR  WALTER  :  Your  letter  asking  for  an 
extra  check  for  one  hundred  dollars  came  to 
hand  three  or  four  days  since.  I  have  delayed 
answering  for  two  reasons.  I  am  satisfied 
that  you  are  spending  more  money  than  is 
;  necessary,  and,  moreover,  I  have  shrunk  from 
'  communicating  to  you  some  unpleasant  intel 
ligence.  Upon  me  have  devolved  the  invest 
ment  and  management  of  your  property,  and 
while  I  have  tried  to  be  cautious,  there  have 
been  losses  which  T  regret.  In  one  case  three- 
fourths  of  an  investment  has  been  lost.  Of 


34        Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

course,  you  didn't  know  this,  or  you  would 
have  been  less  free  in  your  expenditures. 

"  I  am  not  prepared  to  tell  you  how  you 
stand.  I  think  it  will  be  prudent  for  you  to 
leave  college  at  the  end  of  this  term,  and  for 
a  year  to  seek  some  employment.  During  that 
time  I  will  do  what  I  can  to  settle  matters  on 
a  better  footing,  and  perhaps  at  the  end  of 
that  time  you  will  be  able  to  return  to  your 
studies.  You  are  so  young — I  think  you  must 
be  younger  than  the  majority  of  your  class 
mates — that  you  can  afford  to  lose  the  time. 

"  I  send  you  a  check  for  sixty  dollars  in 
place  of  a  hundred.  I  wish  you  to  have  your 
regular  term  bills  sent  to  me,  and  I  will  for 
ward  checks  in  payment.  I  will  see  that  you 
leave  Euclid  owing  no  man  anything.  When 
you  come  home  for  the  vacation  we  can  con 
sult  as  to  the  future.  I  hope  you  will  not  be 
much  depressed  or  cast  down  by  the  news  I 
send  you.  Your  money  is  not  all  lost,  and  I 
may  be  able,  in  the  course  of  twelve  months, 
to  recover  in  a  large  measure  what  has  been 
sunk. 

"  Your  affectionate  guardian, 

"  EZEKIEL  MACK." 

"  A  regular  sockdolager,  isn't  it,  Gates," 
said  Walter. 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.        35 

"  I  don't  see  that  it's  so  bad,"  answered 
Gates  slowly.  "  Your  money  isn't  all  lost." 

"  But  I  must  leave  college." 

"  True ;  but,  as  your  guardian  says,  you  are 
young,  and  if  you  come  back  at  the  end  of  a 
year  you  will  still  be  a  year  younger  than  I  for 
your  standing.  Of  course,  I  am  very  sorry 
to  have  you  go." 

"  I  am  sure  of  that,  Gates." 

"  Is  the  prospect  of  working  for  a  year  so 
unpleasant  to  you,  Walter?  " 

"  Xo,  I  can't  say  it  is,"  said  Walter,  bright 
ening  up,  "  not  if  I  can  choose  my  employ 
ment.  I  shouldn't  like  to  go  behind  the  coun 
ter  in  a  grocery  store,  or— 

"Black  boots  for  a  living?" 

"  Well,  hardly,"  said  Walter,  laughing. 

"  Probably  your  guardian  will  consult  your 
preferences." 

"  I  wish  I  could  arrange  to  travel.  I 
should  like  to  see  something  of  the  world." 

"Why  not?  You  might  get  an  agency  of 
some  kind.  One  college  vacation — last  sum 
mer — I  traveled  about  as  book  agent." 

"How  did  you  like  it?" 

"  Not  very  much.  I  met  with  a  good  many 
rebuffs,  and  was  occasionally  looked  upon 
with  suspicion,  as  I  could  see.  Still,  I  inaile  a 


36        Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

living,  and  brought  back  thirty  dollars  to  start 
me  on  my  new  term." 

"  Just  what  my  supper  cost  the  other  eve 
ning." 

"Yes;  I  didn't  think  it  wise  to  spend  the 
money  in  the  same  way." 

"  You  have  cheered  me  up,  Gates.  I  really 
believe  I  shall  like  to  spend  a  year  in  some 
kind  of  business." 

"Write  your  guardian  to  that  effect.  He 
may  be  blaming  himself  for  his  agency  in  your 
misfortune,  and  a  cheerful  letter  from  you 
Avill  brighten  him  up." 

"All  right!     I  will." 

Walter  sat  down  and  dashed  off  the  follow 
ing  note : 

"  DEAR  GUARDIAN  :  Your  letter  just  re 
ceived.  I  won't  pretend  that  I  am  not  sorry 
for  the  loss  of  my  money,  but  I  am  sure  that 
you  acted  for  the  best.  Don't  trouble  yourself 
too  much  about  the  matter.  Perhaps  it  will 
all  come  out  right  in  a  year  or  so.  In  the 
meantime  I  think  I  shall  find  it  not  unpleas 
ant  to  work  for  a  year  if  you  will  let  me  select 
the  kind  of  business  I  am  to  follow. 

"  I  will  make  the  money  you  sent  me  do  for 
the  present,  and  will  send  you  my  term  bills 
as  you  desire.  You  can  depend  upon  my  set- 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.       37 

tling  up  as  cheap  as  possible,  though  I  confess 
I  have  not  hitherto  been  nearly  as  economical 
as  I  might  have  been.  Now  that  I  know  it  is 
necessary,  you  shall  have  no  reason  to  com 
plain  of  me. 

"  Your  affectionate  ward, 

WALTER  SHERWOOD." 

"  What  do  you  think  of  that,  Gates?  "  asked 
Walter,  giving  the  letter  to  his  chum  to  read. 

"  Excellent !     It  shows  the  right  spirit." 

"  I  am  glad  you  think  so." 

"  Do  you  know,  Walter,  I  think  I  have  more 
occasion  for  regret  than  you?  I  must  bid 
farewell  to  my  roommate  and  this  pleasant 
room." 

"  To  your  roommate,  yes,  but  not  neces 
sarily  to  the  room." 

"  I  shall  have  to  furnish  it  in  very  different 
style  for  the  present,  I  am  not  sure  that  I 
can  afford  a  carpet.  The  luxury  of  my  presf- 
ent  surroundings,  I  am  afraid,  will  spoil  me 
for  humble  quarters." 

"  Don't  borrow  any  trouble  about  that.  I 
shall  leave  you  the  furniture  as  it  stands,  and 
when  I  come  back  to  college,  even  if  we  are 
in  different  classes,  you  must  take  me  in 
again." 

"  Of  course  I  will  agree  to  an  arrangement 


38        Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

so  much  in  my  favor,  but  perhaps  your  guard 
ian  will  think  you  had  better  sell  the  furniture 
and  realize  what  you  can." 

"  No,  I  am  sure  he  won't.  There  is  nothing 
mean  about  Doctor  Mack.  You  can  take  in 
any  one  you  please  in  my  place,  only  I  am  to 
come  back  at  the  end  of  a  year  if  things  turn 
out  well." 

"  I  heartily  hope  you  will  come  back,  and 
if  you  will  excuse  my  saying  so,  with  a  more 
earnest  spirit,  and  a  determination  to  do  jus 
tice  to  your  really  excellent  talents." 

"Good  advice!  I'll  adopt  it.  I'll  begin  to 
do  better  at  once.  I  was  intending  to  take  a 
drive  this  evening,  but  it  would  cost  me  two 
dollars,  and  I  will  stay  at  home  and  save  the 
money." 

"  Come  with  me  on  a  walk,  instead." 

"  I  will.'' 

"  We  will  go  to  the  top  of  Mount  Legar. 
At  sunset  there  will  be  a  fine  view  from 
there." 

"  I  must  stop  on  the  way  and  pay  Mr. 
Daniels'  what  I  owe  him.  He  will  lose  a  good 
deal  by  my  going  away." 

"  True;  but  his  loss  will  be  your  gain." 

At  the  outset  of  their  walk  the  two  students 
called  at  the  hotel,  and  found  Mr.  Daniels  on 
the  piazza. 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.        39 

"  Glad  to  see  you,  Mr.  Sherwood,''  said  the 
landlord  briskly. 

"  I  think  you  will  be,  Mr.  Daniels,  for  I 
have  come  to  pay  your  bills." 

"  Money  is1  always  welcome,  Mr.  Sherwood. 
You  have  no  idea  how  much  I  lose  by  trust 
ing  students.  There  was  Green,  of  the  last 
graduating  class,  left  college  owing  me  forty- 
five  dollars.  He  has  gone  out  West  some 
where,  and  I  never  expect  to  get  a  cent  of  my 
money." 

"  You  came  pretty  near  losing  by  me, 
Daniels." 

"  How  is  that?  "  queried  the  landlord,  look 
ing  surprised. 

"  I've  lost  a  lot  of  money,  or  my  guardian 
has  for  me,  and  I've  got  to  leave  college  at 
the  end  of  this  term." 

"  You  don't  say  so ! "  ejaculated  Mr. 
Daniels  regretfully. 

"  It's  all  true.  My  guardian  wrote  me  about 
it  this  morning." 

"  I  suppose  you're  a  good  deal  cut  up  about 
it,  Mr.  Sherwood." 

"  Well,  I  was  at  first,  but  I  may  be  able  to 
come  back  after  a  year  or  two.  I  shall  go 
into  some  business,  and  meanwhile  my  guard 
ian  will  do  what  he  can  to  recover  the  money 
lost.  It  isn't  so  bad,  after  all." 


4O        Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

"  I  shall  be  sorry  to  have  you  go,  Mr.  Sher 
wood." 

"  You  will  miss  my  bills,  at  any  rate.  I 
wouldn't  have  given  that  supper  the  other 
evening  if  I  had  known  how  things  stood.  I 
would  have  put  the  thirty  dollars  to  better 
use." 

"  Well,  you've  paid  up  like  a  gentleman, 
anyway.  I  hope  you'll  come  back  in  a  year 
as  rich  as  ever.  You  wanted  a  team  to-night, 
James  told  me." 

"  That  was  before  I  got  my  guardian's 
letter.  I  shall  walk,  instead  of  taking  a  car 
riage-ride." 

"  I  will  let  the  account  stand,  if  you  wish." 

"  No.  I  can't  afford  to  run  up  any  bills. 
Good  night,  Mr.  Daniels." 

"  You  did  right,  Walter,"  said  Gates.  "  It 
is  a  bad  thing  to  run  up  bills." 

"  Especially  when  you  are  poor.  It  seems 
odd  to  be  poor." 

"  I  am  used  to  it,  Walter.  lrou  don't  seem 
very  sad  over  it." 

"  I  am  not.  That  is  what  puzzles  me.  I 
really  begin  to  think  I  like  it." 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.       41 


CHAPTER    VI. 

TRUE  FRIEND  AND  FALSE. 

A  COLLEGE  community  is  for  the  most  part 
democratic.  A  poor  student  with  talent  is 
quite  as  likely  to  be  a  favorite  as  the  heir  to 
a  fortune,  often  more  so.  But  there  are  al 
ways  some  snobs  who  care  more  for  dollars 
than  sense.  So  Walter  was  destined  to  find 
out,  for  he  made  no  secret  of  his  loss  of  for 
tune.  Most  of  his  college  friends  sympathized 
with  him,  but  there  was  one  who  proved  un> 
reliable. 

This1  was  Harvey  Warner,  the  son  of  a  man 
who  had  made  a  fortune  during  the  Civil 
War,  some  said  as  a  sutler.  Harvey  professed 
to  be  very  aristocratic,  and  had  paid  especial 
attention  to  Walter,  because  he,  too,  had  the 
reputation  of  being  wealthy.  He  had  invited 
Walter  to  pass  a  couple  of  weeks  at  the  sum 
mer  residence  of  the  Warners,  near  Lake 
George.  This,  however,  was  before  he  had 
heard  of  Walter's  loss  of  fortune.  As  soon 
as  he  learned  this,  he  decided  that  the  invita 
tion  must  be  withdrawn.  This  would  be  awk 
ward,  as  he  had  been  on  very  intimate  terms 


42        Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

with  our  hero,  and  had  been  a  guest  at  the  ban 
quet. 

Not  forseeing  the  effect  of  his  changed  cir 
cumstances  on  the  mind  of  his  late  friend, 
Walter,  meeting  him  on  the  campus  the  day 
afterward,  called  out,  familiarly :  "  How  are 
you,  old  fellow?  Why  didn't  you  come  round 
to  my  room  last  evening?" 

"  I  had  another  engagement,  Sherwood,"  an 
swered  Warner  stiffly. 

"  You  ought  to  give  me  the  preference,"  said 
Walter,  not  observing  the  other's  change  of 
manner. 

"  Ahem !  a  man  must  judge  for  himself,  you 
know'.  By  the  way,  i  sit  true  that  you  have 
lost  all  your  money?" 

"  I  don't  know  how  much  I  have  lost,  but  I 
am  not  coming  back  to  college  next  year." 

"  You  are  in  hard  luck,"  said  Warner 
coldly.  "  By  the  way,  I  think  we  shall  have  to 
give  up  that  plan  for  the  summer." 

"What  plan?" 

"  Why,  you  know  I  invited  you  to  visit  me 
at  Lake  George." 

Walter  began  to  comprehend. 

"  Wrhy,  are  you  not  going  to  be  there?  "  he 
asked. 

"  Yes,  but  the  house  will  be  full  of  other 
fellows,  don't  you  know." 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.       43 

"  So  that  there  will  be  no  room  for  me," 
said  Walter  calmly,  looking  Warner  full  in 
the  face. 

"  Awfully  sorry,  and  all  that  sort  of  thing," 
drawled  Warner.  "  Besides,  I  suppose  you 
will  have  to  go  to  work." 

"  Yes,  I  expect  to  go  to  work — after  awhile. 
Probably  I  shall  take  a  few  weeks  for  rest. 
By  the  way,  when  did  you  find  out  that  your 
home  would  be  full — of  other  fellows?  " 

"  Got  a  letter  from  my  sister  this  morning. 
Besides — in  your  changed  circumstances, 
don't  you  know — you  might  find  it  awkward 
to  be  living  in  a  style  which  you  couldn't  keep 
up." 

"  Thank  you,  Warner.  You  are  very  con 
siderate.  I  really  didn't  give  you  credit  for 
so  much  consideration." 

"  Don't  mention  it !  Of  course  with  your 
good  .sense  you  understand." 

"  I  think  I  do." 

"  And,  by  -the  way,  I  believe  you  borrowed 
two  dollars-  of  me  Jast  week.  If  it  is  incon 
venient  for  you  to»pay  the  whole  at  once,  you 
mijrht  hand  me  a  dollar." 

17  And  I  called  diat  fellow  my  friend !  "  said 
Walter  to  himself. 

"You  are   very  considerate  again,   but   I 


44        Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

think  I  would  rather  pay  the  whole  at  once. 
Can  you  change  a  ten?" 

Harvey  Warner  looked  surprised.  He  had 
jumped  to  the  conclusion  that  Walter  was  the 
next  thing  to  a  pauper,  and  here  he  was  better 
supplied  with  money  than  himself. 

"  I  am  not  sure  that  I  have  as  much  money 
here,"  he  said. 

"  Then  come  with  me  to  the  drug-store ;  I 
am  going  to  buy  a  bottle  of  tooth-wash,  and 
will  change  the  bill  there." 

Warner  accepted  this  proposal. 

"  I'd  better  make  sure  of  my  money  while 
he  has  it,"  he  reflected. 

"  I  hope  you're  not  very  much  disappointed 
about  the  visit?  "  he  said. 

"  Not  at  all !  I  should  have  had  to  decline. 
I  have  been  invited  to  spend  a  month  at  the 
Adirondacks  with  Frank  Clifford." 

"  You  don't  mean  it !  "  ejaculated  Warner 
enviously. 

Clifford  was  a  member  of  an  old  family, 
and  an  invitation  from  him  was  felt  to  confer 
distinction.  Warner  himself  would  have 
given  a  good  deal  to  be  on  sufficiently  intimate 
terms  to  receive  such  a  compliment. 

"When  did  he  invite  you?"  he  asked  sug 
gestively. 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.       45 

Walter  saw  what  was  in  his  mind,  and  an 
swered  with  a  smile: 

"  He  invited  me  this  morning." 

"  Had  he  heard— 

"Of  my  loss  of  fortune?  Oh,  yes!  But 
why  should  that  make  any  difference?" 

"  I  wouldn't  go,  if  I  were  you/'' 

"Why  not?" 

"  You  are  going  to  be  a  poor  man." 

"  I  don't  know  about  that." 

"  You  are  poor  now,  at  any  rate." 

"  Well,  perhaps  so,  but  am  I  any  the  worse 
for  that?  " 

"  I  thought  you  would  understand  my  mean 
ing." 

"  I  do,  but  I  am  glad  that  all  my  friends 
don't  attach  the  importance  you  do  to  the 
possession  of  fortune.  Good  morning!" 

"  I  suppose  it's  the  way  of  the  world ! " 
thought  Walter,  as  his  quondam  friend  left 
him.  "  But,  thank  Heaven,  all  are  not  mer 
cenary!  I've  got  a  few  friends  left,  anyhow." 

A  few  rods  farther  on  he  met  Victor  Cres- 
well,  perhaps  the  richest  student  in  the  junior 
class. 

"What's  this  I  hear,  Walter?"  he  asked. 
"  Have  you  lost  your  money?  " 

"  Some  of  it,  I  believe." 

"  And  you  are  not  coming  back  to  college?  * 


46        Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

"  I  shall  stay  out  a  year.  Perhaps  I  can 
come  back  then." 

"  You  needn't  leave  at  all.  My  governor 
allows  me  a  hundred  dollars  a  month  for  my 
own  use — spending  money,  you  know.  I'll 
give  you  half  of  it,  if  that  will  enable  you  to 
pull  through." 

Walter  was  touched. 

"  You  are  a  friend  worth  having,  Creswell," 
he  said.  "  But  I  really  think  I  shall  enjoy 
being  out  of  college  for  a  year.  I  shall  find 
out  what  is  in  me.  But  I  shan't  forget  your 
generous  offer." 

"  Better  accept  it,  Sherwood.  I  ran  get 
along  well  enough  on  fifty  dollars  a  month." 

"  I  won't  accept  it  for  myself,  but  I'll  tell 
you  something.  My  chum,  Gates,  is  very  hard 
pushed.  You  know  he  depends  wholly  on 
himself,  and  twenty-five  dollars  just  at  this 
time  would  be  a  godsend  to  him.  He  is 
worried  about  paying  his  bills.  If,  now,  you 
would  transfer  a  little  of  your  generosity  to 
him— 

"  I  don't  know  him  very  well,  but  if  you 
speak  well  of  him  that  is  enough.  I  shall  be 
glad  to  help  him.  Let  me  see  how  much  I 
can  spare." 

He  drew  out  a  wallet,  and  from  it  four  ten- 
dollar  bills. 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.       47 

"  Here  are  forty  dollars,"  he  said.  "  Give 
them  to  him,  but  don't  let  him  know  where 
they  came  from." 

"  Creswell,  you're  a  trump !  "  said  Walter, 
shaking  his  hand  vigorously.  "  You  don't 
know  how  happy  you  will  make  him." 

"  Oh,  that's  all  right.  But  I'm  sorry  you 
won't  let  me  do  something  for  you." 

"  I  will  if  I  need  it," 

"  Good !  "  said  Creswell,  in  a  tone  of  satis 
faction.  "  Now,  mind,  you  don't  hesitate." 

Walter,  happy  in  the  happiness  he  was  go 
ing  to  confer,  made  his  way  quickly  to  his 
own  room.  Gates  sat  at  the  table  with  a 
troubled  brow,  writing  some  figures  on  a 
piece  of  paper. 

"  What  are  you  about,  Gates?  "  asked  his 
chum. 

"  I  have  been  thinking,"  said  Gates  wearily, 
"  that  perhaps  I  ought  to  do  what  you  have 
decided  to  do." 

"What's  that?" 

"  Leave  college." 

"  But  why?  " 

11 1  am  so  troubled  to  pay  my  bills.  I  wrote 
to  my  uncle  last  week — he  is  a  well-to-do 
fanner — asking  him  if  he  wouldn't  send  me 
fifteen  dollars  to  help  pay  my  term  bills.  I 


48        Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

promised  to  come  and  help  him  in  the  farm 
work  during  July." 

"  What  does  he  say?  "  asked  Walter,  smil 
ing,  Gates  couldn't  understand  why. 

"  That  he  ^ever  pays  for  work  in  advance — 
he  doesn't  approve  of  it." 

"  He  could  afford  it?  " 

"Oh,  yes;  he's  got  a  good  sum  in  the  sav 
ings-bank,  but  he  is  a  very  cautious  man.  I 
don't  see  how  I'm  going  to  get  through.  Per 
haps  I  had  better  take  a  year  away  from  col 
lege." 

"  There  is  no  need  of  that.  I  have  some 
money  here  for  you." 

"  Some  money  for  me?  " 

"  Yes,"  and  Walter  placed  four  ten-dollar 
bills  on  the  table. 

"  But,  Walter,  you  are  in  no  position  to  lend 
me  money." 

"True;  the  money  doesn't  come  from  me." 

"  But  who  besides  you  would  do  me  such  a 
great  favor?  " 

"  One  of  the  rich  fellows  in  college — no,  I 
can't  tell  you  his  name.  You  can  take  it 
without  hesitation." 

"  But  it  must  have  been  to  you  that  he  lent 
it." 

"  No,  he  understands  that  it  is  to  be  given 
to  you.  Will  it  help  you?" 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.        49 

"  Will  it  help  me?  It  will  carry  me  through 
gloriously,"  and  Gates  was  radiant  with  pleas 
ure. 

"  Are  you  g'ong  to  leave  college  now?  " 

"  No;  this  help  is  providential.  I  will  never 
be  distrustful  again." 

"  I  wish  Creswell  could  see  how  much  hap 
piness  his  gift  has  brought  with  it,"  thought 
Walter. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

WALTER'S  EXPERIMENT  BEGINS. 

AFTER  a  conference  between  Walter  and  his 
guardian  it  was  decided  that  he  should  wait 
till  the  first  of  September  before  seeking  for 
any  business  position.  Walter,  who  was  some 
what  impulsive,  was  disposed  to  start  at  once, 
but  Doctor  Mack  said:  "No,  you  are  entitled 
to  a  vacation.  When  your  class  resumes  study 
at  Euclid,  it  will  be  time  for  you  to  begin  to 
earn  your  living." 

"  I  am  not  sure  that  I  deserve  a  vacation," 
said  Walter  frankly.  "  I  have  not  studied  as 
hard  as  I  ought." 

"  Very  probably.  You  have  not  been  in 
earnest.  You  are  a  year  older  now,  and  you 
have  a  better  understanding  of  your  position." 


50        Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

"  You  are  very  charitable,  my  dear  guard 
ian,"  said  Walter. 

Doctor  Mack  smiled. 

"  I  am  quite  aware,"  he  said,  "  that  old 
heads  are  not  often  to  be  found  on  young 
shoulders. 

"  Then  you  think  it  will  be  right  for  me  to 
enjoy  myself  this  summer?" 

"  I  want  you  to  do  so." 

"  One  of  my  college  friends,  Frank  Clif 
ford,  has  invited  me  to  pass  a  month  with  him 
in  the  Adirondaeks.  The  Cliffords  have  a 
lodge  not  far  from  Blue  Mountain  Lake. 
Frank's  mother  and  sisters  will  be  abroad, 
and  he  wants  me  to  keep  him  company." 

"  I  can  think  of  no  objection.  How  shall 
you  spend  your  time?  " 

"  In  hunting  and  fishing.  There  are  splen 
did  chances  for  both  up  there,  so  Clifford 
says." 

"  Go  and  have  your  good  time.  When  you 
come  back  we  will  talk  of  your  future  plans." 

Walter's  stay  was  prolonged  to  eight  weeks, 
and  when  he  returned  it  was  already  nearing 
the  end  of  August.  He  was  browned  by  ex 
posure,  and  looked  the  picture  of  health. 

"  Now  I  am  ready  to  go  to  work,  Doctor 
Mack,"  he  said.  "  Have  you  any  plans  for 
me?" 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.        51 

u  How  would  you  like  to  go  into  a  drug 
store?  I  have  a  college  classmate  who  is  a 
very  successful  druggist  in  Syracuse." 

Walter  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"  I  don't  believe  I  have  a  taste  for  making 
pills,"  he  said. 

"  I  thought  not.  What  do  you  think  of  en 
tering  a  dry-goods  store?  I  am  acquainted 
with  the  head  of  a  prominent  establishment  in 
New  York." 

"  It  is  a  very  respectable  position,  but  I 
should  feel  '  cabined,  cr'bbed,  confined  '  in  it." 

"  I  am  at  the  end  of  my  tether.  Have  you 
formed  any  plans  of  your  own?  " 

"  WTell,   not  exactly." 

"  But  you  have  thought  somewhat  on  the 
subject?  " 

"  Yes,"  answered  Walter. 

"  If  at  all  possible,  I  shall  let  you  have  your 
own  way." 

"  You  may  think  me  foolish,"  said  Walter 
hesitatingly. 

"  I  don't  know.  Let  me  hear  what  you  have 
to  propose." 

"  I  thought,"  said  Walter  eagerly,  "  I  would 
like  to  go  out  West." 

"  What  would  you  do  when  you  got  there?  " 
"There  must  be  lots  of  things  to  do." 


52        Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

"Very  likely.  You  might  buy  an  ax  and 
clear  the  virgin  forests." 

"  I  am  afraid  I  wouldn't  be  a  success  at 
that." 

"  You  have  no  definite  idea  as  to  what  you 
would  do?  " 

"  No.  I  could  tell  better  when  I  got  out 
there." 

"  Now,  about  the  expense.  How  much 
money  would  you  need?  You  would  require 
to  live  till  you  begin  to  earn  something." 

"  How  much  will  it  cost  me  to  get  to 
Chicago?" 

"  Say  about  twenty-five  dollars." 

"  I  think,  guardian,  if  you  will  advance  me 
a  hundred  dollars,  that  will  be  sufficient." 

"  For  how  long  a  time?  " 

"  For  a  year.    You  see,  I  expect  to  earn  my 
own  living  by  the  time  I  have  spent  fifty  dol 
lars  in  all.     I  should  go  to  a  cheap  boarding 
place,  of  course.     I  should  be  able  to  pay  my 
way." 

"  You  will  be  content,  then,  with  a  hundred 
dollars,  Walter?" 

"Yes;  perhaps  I  could  make  it  do  on  less." 

"No;  you  shall  have  a  hundred.  If  abso 
lutely  necessary,  you  can  send  for  more." 

"  No,"  said  Walter  confidently  j  "  I  won't  do 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.        53 

that.  I  shall  get  along  somehow.  I  want  to 
make  a  man  of  myself." 

"  That  is  a  commendable  ambition.  Still, 
sometimes  a  young  man  finds  it  hard  to  obtain 
employment.  If  you  had  a  trade,  now,  it 
might  be  different.  Suppose,  for  instance,  you 
were  a  journeyman  tailor,  you  could  readily 
find  a  place  in  Chicago  or  any  good-sized  city." 

"  I  shouldn't  care  to  be  a  tailor." 

"  I  shouldn't  care  to  employ  you  if  you 
were,"  said  his  guardian,  smiling.  "  One 
thing  I  would  like  to  guard  you  against. 
Don't  be  too  particular  about  what  you  take 
up.  With  so  small  an  outfit  as  you  have  stipu 
lated  for,  you  will  have  to  go  to  work  at  some 
thing  soon.  Then,  again,  you  won't  be  able 
to  live  as  well  as  you  have  been  accustomed  to 
do  here  and  in  college." 

"  I  understand  that,  and  am  prepared  for  it. 
I  want  to  rough  it." 

"  Possibly  you  will  have  your  wish  granted. 
I  don't  want  to  discourage  you,  Walter.  I 
only  want  to  prepare  you  for  what  may,  and 
probably  will,  come." 

"  Do  you  know  any  one  in  Chicago,  Doctor 
Mack?  I  might  find  it  pleasant  to  have  an 
acquaintance." 

"  Yes,  I  know  a  retired  merchant  named 
Archer.  He  lives  on  Indiana  Avenue.  I 


54        Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

don't  remember  the  number,  but  you  can 
easily  find  his  name  in  the  directory.  His 
name  is  Allen  Archer." 

Walter  noted  the  name  in  a  new  memoran 
dum-book  which  he  had  purchased. 

"  Where  would  you  advise  me  to  put  up  on 
my  arrival  in  Chicago?  "  he  asked. 

"  There  are  several  good  houses — the  Sher 
man,  Tremont,  Palmer  House;  but  they  will 
be  beyond  your  means.  Indeed,  any  hotel 
will  be.  Still  you  might  go  to  some  good  house 
for  a  day.  That  will  give  you  time  to  hunt 
up  a  modest  boarding-house." 

"  An  excellent  plan ! "  said  Walter,  in  a 
tone  of  satisfaction.  "  Do  you  know,  my  dear 
guardian,  I  shall  go  out  in  the  best  of  spirits. 
I  feel — in  Shakespeare's  words — that  the 
world  is  mine  oyster." 

"  I  hope  you  will  be  able  to  open  it, 
Walter.  You  have  my  best  wishes.  Don't 
forget  that  you  will  have  to  depend  on  your 
self." 

"  I  won't  forget  it.  I  wish  it  was  time  for 
me  to  start." 

"  It  will  come  soon  enough.  You  had  better 
get  out  your  clothes,  and  get  them  mended, 
if  necessary,  and  put  in  order.  Nancy  will  do 
all  she  can  for  you,  and  the  tailor  will  do  the 
rest.  Better  not  take  much  with  you.  When 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.        55 

you  get  settled  I  will  forward  your  trunk  by 
express." 

"VYheii  Nancy  Sprague  heard  of  Walter's 
plans  she  was  much  disturbed. 

"  Oh,  Master  Walteiy '  she  said,  in  a  tragic 
tone,  "  is  it  true  that  you've  lost  all  your 
money  and  have  got  to  go  out  into  the  cold 
world  to  make  a  living?  " 

"  I  believe  I  have  lost  some  money,  Nancy, 
but  I  rather  like  the  idea  of  working  for  my 
living." 

"  Oh,  you  poor  child,  you  little  know  what 
it  is.  I  can't  bear  to  think  of  it.  I  can't  see 
how  Doctor  Mack  can  let  you  go." 

"  I  should  be  very  sorry  if  he  refused.  It 
isn't  so  bad,  to  work  for  a  living.  Haven't  you 
always  done  it?  " 

"  Yes,  but  that's  different.  I  was  always 
poor,  and  I  am  used  to  it." 

"  I  am  going  to  get  used  to  it." 

"  Walter — don't  tell  your  guardian  what  I 
am  saying — but  I've  got  two  hundred  dollars 
in  the  savings-bank,  and  I  shall  be  very  glad 
to  give  you  some  of  it.  You  will  take  it,  now, 
won't  you?  I  can  get  it  out  to-morrow." 

"  Nancy,  you  are  a  true  friend/'  said 
Walter,  really  moved  by  the  unselfish  devotion 
of  the  housekeeper;  "but  I  shan't  need  it.  I 


56        Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

shall  take  a  hundred  dollars  with  me,  and  long 
before  it  is  gone  I  shall  be  earning  my  living." 

"  You'll  send  for  it  if  you  need  it?  " 

"  Yes,  if  I  find  I  am  very  hard  up,  and  there 
is  no  other  way,  I  will  send  for  it." 

Nancy  brightened  up,  much  pleased  and  re 
lieved  by  this  assurance. 

"  I  couldn't  bear  to  think  of  your  suffering 
for  a  meal  of  victuals  when  we  have  so  much 
in  the  house.  I  don't  see  why  you  can't  stay 
at  home  and  get  a  place  in  the  village." 

Walter  laughed. 

"  It  wouldn't  suit  me  at  all,  Nancy.  I  am 
going  West  to  grow  up  with  the  country. 

"  I  wish  I  could  be  somewhere  near,  to  look 
after  you." 

"  It  would  be  of  no  use,  Nancy.  Women 
are  in  great  demand  out  there — at  any  rate 
in  Dakota — and  you'd  be  married  in  less  than 
no  time,  if  you  went." 

"  You  are  only  joking  now,  Master  Walter." 

"  Not  at  all !  I  read  the  other  day  that  of 
ten  school-ma'ams  who  went  out  to  Dakota 
last  fall,  eight  were  married  within  three 
months." 

"  Nobody  could  marry  me  against  my  will," 
said  Nancy  resolutely. 

"  Perhaps  he  would  find  a  way  of  overcom 
ing  your  objections,"  said  Walter,  laughing. 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.        57 

"  But  I  am  afraid  Doctor  Mack  couldn't  do 
without  you.  He  couldn't  spare  you  and  ine 
both." 

"  That's  true,"  assented  Nancy,  who  had  not 
been  so  much  alarmed  at  the  matrimonial 
dangers  hinted  at  by  Walter  as  might  have 
been  anticipated.  Had  a  good  opportunity 
offered,  I  am  inclined  to  think  Nancy  would 
have  been  willing  to  change  her  name.  After 
all,  she  was  only  forty-nine,  and  I  have  known 
more  than  one  to  surrender  single  blessed 
ness  with  all  its  charms  at  and  beyond  that 
age. 

At  last  the  day  of  departure  came.  Valise 
in  hand,  Walter  jumped  aboard  the  stage  that 
was  to  convey  him  to  the  railroad-station.  He 
shook  hands  with  his  guardian  and  Nancy, 
the  driver  whipped  up  his  horses',  and  a  new 
period  in  Walter's  life  had  commenced. 

"I  wonder  how  he'll  come  out?"  mused 
Doctor  Mack  thoughtfully.  "  Have  I  acted 
for  the  best  in  letting  him  go?  Well,  time 
alone  can  tell." 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

WALTER  BUYS  A  WATCH. 

WALTER    was    tempted    to    stop    over    at 
Niagara,  as  his  ticket  would  have  allowed  him 


58        Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

to  do,  but  he  was  also  very  anxious  to  reach 
Chicago  and  get  to  work.  "  I  can  visit 
"Niagara  some  other  time,"  he  rellected. 
"  Now  I  can  spare  neither  the  money  nor  the 
time." 

Hour  after  hour  sped  by,  until  with  a  little 
thrill  of  excitement  Walter  learned  by  consult 
ing  his  railroad  guide  that  he  was  within 
fifty  miles  of  Chicago.  He  looked  out  of  the 
car  window,  and  surveyed  with  interest  the 
country  through  which  they  were  speeding  at 
the  rate  of  thirty-five  miles  an  hour.  His 
attention  was  drawn  from  the  panorama  out 
side  by  a  voice : 

"  Is  this  seat  engaged?  " 

Walter  looked  up,  and  his  glance  rested  on 
a  man  of  perhaps  thirty-five,  dressed  in  a  light 
suit,  and  wearing  a  tall  white  hat. 

"  No,  sir,"  answered  Walter  politely,  re 
moving  his  gripsack  from  the  seat. 

"  I  don't  want  to  incommode  you,"  said  the 
stranger,  as  he  took  the  place  thus  vacated. 

"  You  don't  in  the  least,"  said  Walter. 

"  I  suppose  you  are  going  to  Chicago?  " 

"Yes,  sir." 

"  Are  you  going  farther — out  to  Dakota,  for 
instance?" 

"  No,  sir.  Chicago  is  far  enough  west  for 
me  at  present." 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.        59 

"  I  live  in  Dakota.  I  have  a  long  journey 
to  make  after  we  reach  Chicago." 

"  I  don't  know  about  Dakota.  Is  it  a  good 
place  for  business?  " 

"  It  is  going  to  be.  Yes,  Dakota  has  a 
bright  future.  I  have  a  pleasant  little  home 
out  there.  I  had  to  go  East  on  business,  and 
>-tjiyed  a  little  longer  than  I  intended.  In  fact 
I  spent  more  money  than  I  anticipated,  and 
that  makes  me  a  little  short." 

It  struck  Walter  that  his  new  acquaintance 
for  a  stranger  was  very  confidential. 

"  Is  it  possible  he  will  propose  to  borrow7 
money  of  me? "  he  asked  himself.  He  did 
not  quite  know  what  to  say,  but  politeness  re 
quired  him  to  say  something. 

"  I  am  sorry,"  he  replied,  in  a  sympathizing 
tone. 

"  I  should  like  to  take  a  train  this  evening 
for  my  home,"  continued  the  stranger. 

"  I  hope  you  will  be  able  to  do  so." 

"  Well,  there's  one  drawback.  I  haven't 
got  money  enough  to  buy  a  through  ticket, 
ruder  these  circumstances,  I  am  going  to  offer 
you  a  bargain." 

Walter  looked  surprised  and  expectant. 

The  stranger  drew  a  gold  watch  from  his 
pocket — a  very  handsome  gold  watch,  which 
looked  valuable. 


60        Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

"You  see  that  watch?"  he  said.  "How 
much  do  you  think  it  is  worth?" 

"  It  looks  like  a  nice  watch.  I  am  no  judge 
of  values." 

"  It  cost  me  ninety  dollars  six  months  s-ince. 
Now  I  need  the  money,  and  I  will  sell  it  to 
you  for  twenty-five." 

"  But  that  would  be  a  great  sacrifice." 

"  So  it  would,  but  I  need  the  money.  Of 
course,  if  you  haven't  got  the  money 

"  I  have  that  amount  of  money,"  said 
Walter,  "  but  I  haven't  got  it  to  spare.  I 
might  need  it." 

"  Then  all  you  need  to  do  is  to  sell  the  watch 
or  pawn  it.  You  could  sell  it  for  fifty  dollars 
without  trouble." 

"  Why  don't  you  do  that?  "  asked  Walter 
shrewdly. 

"  Because  I  haven't  the  time.     I  want,  if 

possible,   to  go   on   to-night.      If  you  had  a 

wife  and  two  children  waiting  for  you,  whom 

you  had  not  seen  for  two  months,  you  wouldn't 

.mind  losing  a  few  dollars  for  the  sake  of  see- 

'ing  them  a  little  sooner." 

"  Very  likely,"  answered  Walter,  to  whom 
his  companion's  explanation  seemed  plausible. 

Walter  was  tempted,  but  he  reflected  that 
twenty-five  dollars  represented  a  third  of  the 
money  he  had  with  him,  so  he  put  away  the 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.        01 

temptation,  but  with  reluctance.  He  had 
a  silver  watch,  bought  for  him,  when  he  en 
tered  college,  at  a  cost  of  fifteen  dollars,  and 
like  the  majority  of  boys  of  his  age  he  felt 
that  he  should  much  prefer  to  carry  a  gold 
one.  Still  he  must  be  prudent. 

"  No,"  he  said,  shaking  his  head,  "  I  don't 
think  I  had  better  buy  the  watch.  I  presume 
you  will  find  some  one  else  on  the  train  who 
would  be  glad  of  the  bargain." 

"  Very  likely,  but  we  are  near  Chicago,  and 
I  haven't  time  to  look  around.  Come,  I'll 
make  you  a  still  better  offer,  though  I  ought 
not  to  do  so.  You  may  have  the  watch  for 
twenty  dollars.  That  money  will  get  me 
through,  and  I  won't  haggle  about  five  dol 
lars." 

"Twenty  dollars!"  repeated  Walter 
thoughtfully. 

"  Yes,  look  at  the  watch.  Isn't  it  a 
beauty?  " 

"  Yes,  I  like  the  appearance  of  it  very 
mnich." 

"  If  you  get  out  of  money,  you  can  easily 
pawn  it  for  more  than  the  sum  I  ask  you  for 
it." 

Certainly  this  was  an  important  considera 
tion.  Walter  felt  that  he  would  be  foolish 
to  lose  so  good  a  chance.  It  was  a  pity  that 


62        Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

the  stranger  should  be  forced  to  roake  such 
a  sacrifice,  yet  it  really  seemed  that  he  would 
be  doing  him  a  favor,  as  well  as  benefiting 
himself,  by  accepting  his  proposition. 

"  You  will  guarantee  it  to  be  solid  gold?  " 
he  said,  with  momentary  suspicion. 

"  Certainly.  You  will  see  that  it  is  an  Elgin 
watch.  Of  course  you  know  the  reputation 
of  that  make.  They  don't  make  any  sham 
watches  at  their  factory." 

"  I  thought  the  case  might  be  gilt,"  said 
Walter,  half  ashamed  of  his  suspicions. 

"  You  do  well  to  be  cautious,  but  I  will 
guarantee  the  watch  to  be  all  I  represent  it. 
I  only  wish  you  were  a  jeweler.  Then  you 
could  judge  for  yourself." 

It  sounded  very  plausible.  Then,  the  watch 
was  a  very  handsome  one. 

"  Let  me  open  it  and  show  you  the  works." 

The  stranger  did  so.  Walter  was  no  judge 
of  the  mechanism  of  a  watch,  but  what  he 
saw  impressed  him  favorably.  The  stranger 
seemed  very  frank  and  fair  spoken.  Walter 
knew,  of  course,  that  in  traveling  one  was 
likely  to  meet  with  sharpers,  but  that  did 
not  justify  him  in  suspecting  everybody  he 
met. 

"  It  would  look  very  nice  at  the  end  of  my 
chain,"  he  thought,  (l  I  suppose  I  cannot 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.        63 

afford  it;  but,  as  he  says,  I  can  raise  money  on 
it  at  any  time." 

"  Well,  young  man,  what  is  your  decision? 
You  must  excuse  me  for  hurrying  you,  but 
we  are  not  far  from  Chicago,  and  I  want  to 
make  sure  that  I  can  continue  my  journey  to 
night.  I  shall  telegraph  to  my  wife  that  I  am 
coming." 

"  I  will  take  the  watch,"  said  Walter. 
"  There  doesn't  seem  to  be  much  risk  in  doing 
so.'' 

"  Bosh !  I  should  say  not.  Young  man  I 
congratulate  you.  You  have  made  the  best 
bargain  of  your  life.  Have  you  got  the  money 
handy?" 

Walter  took  out  two  ten-dollar  bills  and 
handed  them  to  his  companion,  receiving  the 
watch  in  exchange. 

"  Well,  that  settles  my  mind,"  said  the 
stranger,  in  a  tone  of  satisfaction.  "  I  shall 
see  the  old  woman  and  the  kids  very  soon, 
thanks  to  your  kindness." 

"  Don't  mention  it,"  said  Walter  compla 
cently.  "  J  feel  indebted  to  you,  rather,  as 
you  have  given  me  much  more  than  an  equiva 
lent  for  my  money." 

"  That  is  true,  but  under  present  circum 
stances  money  is  worth  a  good  deal  to  me. 
Now,  if  you  don't  mind,  I  will  go  into  the 


64        Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

smotdng-car  and  have  a  little  smoke  before 
we  arrive.  Will  you  join  me?  " 

"  No,  sir,  thank  you ;  I  don't  smoke." 

"  Good  day,  then.  Hope  \ve  shall  meet 
again." 

Walter  responded  politely,  and  the 
stranger,  rising,  walked  forward  to  the  front 
part  of  the  car  and  disappeared. 

Walter  detached  the  silver  watch  from  the 
plated  chain  to  which  it  was  attached,  substi 
tuted  the  new  gold  watch,  and  put  the  silver 
tvatch  in  his  pocket.  It  occurred  to  him  that 
If  he  should  really  need  money  it  might  be 
better  for  him  to  sell  the  silver  watch  and  re 
tain  the  gold  one. 

"  I  have  made  thirty  dollars  at  the  very 
least  on  my  purchase,"  he  reflected,  "  for  I  am 
sure  I  can  sell  the  watch  for  fifty  dollars1,  if 
I  wish  to  do  so.  This  is  a  white  day  for  me, 
as  the  Romans  used  to  say.  I  accept  it  as  a 
good  omen  of  success.  I  wish  Doctor  Mack 
and  Nancy  were  here  to  see  it.  I  think  the 
doctor  would  give  me  credit  for  a  little 
shrewdness." 

The  car  sped  on  perhaps  a  dozen  miles 
farther,  when  the  door  opened,  and  the  con 
ductor  entered,  followed  by  a  stout  man  of 
perhaps  fifty  years  of  age,  who  looked  flushed 
and  excited. 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.        65 

"  This  gentleman  has  been  robbed  of  his 
gold  watch,"  explained  the  conductor.  "  He 
is  convinced  that  some  one  on  the  train  has 
taken  it.  Of  course  no  one  of  you  is  suspected, 
but  I  will  trouble  you  to  show  me  your 
watches." 

As  Walter  hoard  these  words  a  terrible  fear 
assailed  him.  Had  he  bought  a  stolen  watch? 


CHAPTER    IX. 

AN   INGENIOUS   SCHEME. 

THE  passengers,  though  somewhat  sur 
prised,  generally  showed  their  watches  with 
a  good  grace.  One  old  man  produced  a  silver 
watch,  fifty  years1  old. 

"  That  watch  belonged  to  my  grandfather," 
he  said.  "  You  don't  claim  that,  do  you?" 

"  Wouldn't  take  it  as  a  gift,"  said  the  loser 
crustily. 

"  You  couldn't  get  it  in  exchange  for 
yours !  "  retorted  the  owner. 

Presently  they  came  to  Walter.  If  he  had 
not  attached  the  gold  watch  to  his  chain,  in 
stead  of  his  old  silver  one,  he  would  have  been 
tempted  to  leave  it  in  his  pocket  and  produce 
the  less  valuable  one.  But  he  was  saved  from 


66       Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

the  temptation,  as  this  would  now  have  been 
impossible.  Besides,  had  the  gold  watch  been 
found  on  him  afterward  it  would  have  looked 
very  suspicious. 

"  Well,  youngster,"  said  the  stout  man, 
"  show  us  your  watch." 

With  a  flushed  face  and  an  uneasy  feeling 
Walter  drew  out  the  gold  timepiece. 

"  Is  that  your  watch?"  he  said. 

"  Yes!  "  almost  shouted  the  stout  passenger 
fiercely.  "  So  you  are  the  thief?  " 

"  No,  sir,"  answered  Walter,  pale  but  firm. 
"  I  am  not  the  thief." 

"  Where  did  you  get  it,  then?  " 

"  I  bought  it." 

"You  bought  it?  That's  a  likely  story. 
Why,  it  was  taken  from  me  this  very  after 
noon." 

"  That  may  be,  but  I  bought  it,  all  the 
same." 

The  owner  was  about  to  protest,  when  the 
conductor  said,  quietly :  "  Listen  to  the  young 
fellow's  explanation." 

Walter  proceeded: 

"  A  man  came  to  my  seat,  and  told  me  he 
wanted  to  raise  money  enough  to  get  to  Da 
kota.  He  offered  me  the  watch  for  twenty- 
five  dollars,  though  he  said  it  cost  him  ninety, 
six  months  ago." 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.       67 

"  And  you  paid  him  twenty-five  dollars? " 
"  No ;  I  had  no  money  to  spare,  but  when 
he  offered  it  for  twenty,  and  told  me  I  could 
more  than  get  my  money  back,  either  by  pawn 
ing  or  selling  it,  I  made  up  my  mind  to  pur 
chase,  and  did  so." 

"Where  is  this  man?"  asked  the  conduc 
tor. 

"  He  said  he  was  going  into  the  smoking- 
car." 

"  That  is  a  likely  story,"  sneered  the  stout 
gentleman. 

"  Do  you  charge  me  with  taking  the 
watch?"  demanded  Walter  hotly.  "I  have 
never  left  this  car.  Have  you  seen  me  be 
fore?  " 

"  No,  but  you  are  probably  a  confederate 
of  the  man  from  whom  you  got  it.  But  I  am 
not  sure  if  there  was  any  such  man:" 

"  I  will  describe  him,"  said  Walter. 

As  he  did  so,  the  conductor  said :  "  There 
was  such  a  man  on  the  train.  He  got  off  at 
the  last  station." 

"  I  don't  know  anything  about  that,"  said 
the  claimant,  "  but  I'll  trouble  you,  young 
man,  for  that  watch." 

"  Will  you  return  me  the  twenty  dollars  I 
gave  for  it?"  asked  Walter, 


68        Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

"  Of  course  not.  I  don't  propose  to  buy 
back  my  own  watch." 

An  elderly  gentleman  who  sat  just  behind 
Walter  spoke  here. 

"  It  is  rather  hard  on  the  boy/'  he  said. 
"  I  can  confirm  his  story  about  the  purchase 
of  the  watch.  I  heard  the  bargaining  and  saw 
the  purchase-money  paid." 

"  That  makes  no  difference  to  me,"  said  the 
claimant.  "  I've  identified  the  watch,  and  I 
want  it." 

Walter  removed  it  from  his1  chain,  and  was 
about  to  hand  it  to  the  claimant,  when  a  quiet- 
looking  man,  dressed  in  a  drab  suit,  rose  from 
a  seat  farther  down  the  car  and  came  for 
ward.  He  was  a  small  man,  not  over  five  feet 
five  inches  in  height,  and  he  would  not  have 
weighed  over  one  hundred  and  twenty  pounds, 
but  there  was  a  look  of  authority  on  his  face 
and  an  accent  of  command  in  his  voice. 

"  You  needn't  give  up  the  watch,  my  boy," 
he  said. 

Walter  drew  back  his  hand  and  turned 
round  in  surprise.  The  claimant  uttered  an 
angry  exclamation  and  said  testily:  "By 
what  right  do  you  interfere?  " 

"  The  watch  isn't  yours,"  said  the  small 
man  nonchalantly. 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.        69 

"  It  isn't,  hey?  Well,  of  all  the  imperti 
nent " 

"  Stop  there,  Jim  Beckwith !  You  see  I 
know  you  " — as  the  stout  man  turned  pale 
and  clutched  at  the  side  of  the  seat. 

u  Who  are  you?  "  he  demanded  hoarsely. 

"  Detective  Green !  " 

The  claimant  lost  all  his  braggadocio  air, 
and  stared  at  the  detective  with  a  terrified 
look." 

"  That  isn't  my  name,"  he  managed  to  ejacu 
late. 

"  Very  likely  not,"  said  the  detective 
calmly,  "  but  it  is  one  of  your  names.  It  is 
a  very  clever  game  that  you  and  your  con 
federate  are  playing.  He  sells  the  watch,  and 
you  demand  it,  claiming  that  it  has  been  stolen 
from  you.  I  was  present  when  the  watch  was 
sold,  and  the  reason  I  did  not  interfere  was 
because  I  was  waiting  for  the  sequel.  How 
many  times  have  you  played  this  game?  " 

"  There's  some  mistake,"  gasped  the  other. 

"  Perhaps  so,  but  I  have  some  doubts 
whether  you  came  by  it  honestly." 

"I  assure  you  it  is  my  watch,"  cried  the 
other  uneasily. 

"  How  much  did  you  pay  for  it,  young 
man?"  asked  the  detective. 

"  Twenty  dollars." 


70        Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

"Very  well,  sir;  give  the  boy  twenty  dol 
lars,  and  I  shall  advise  him  to  give  the  watch 
back  to  you,  as  it  may  be  stolen  property, 
which  he  would  not  like  to  have  found  in  his 
possession." 

"  But  that  will  be  paying  twenty  dollars 
for  my  own  property.  It  was  not  to  me  he 
paid  the  money." 

"  You  will  have  to  look  to  your  confeder 
ate  for  that.  I  am  not  sure  but  I  ought  to 
make  you  give  twenty-five  dollars'." 

This  hint  led  to  the  stout  man's  hastily 
producing  two  ten-dollar  bills,  which  he 
tendered  to  Walter. 

"  It's  an  outrage,"  he  said,  "  making  a  man 
pay  for  his  own  property !  " 

"  Are  you  sure  that  your  statements  in  re 
gard  to  this  man  are  true?  "  asked  an  import 
ant-looking  individual  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  car.  "  To  my  mind  your  interference  is 
unwarrantable,  not  to  say  outrageous.  Jus 
tice  has  been  trampled  upon." 

The  detective  looked  round  sharply. 

"  Do  you  know  the  man?  "  he  asked. 

"  No." 

"  Well,  I  do.  I  first  made  his  acquaintance 
at  Joliet  prison,  where  he  served  a  term  of 
years  for  robbing  a  bank.  Is  that  true  or  not, 
Jim  Beck  with?" 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.        71 

The  man  known  as  Beckwith  had  already 
started  to  leave  the  car,  but,  although  he 
heard  the  question,  he  didn't  come  back  to 
answer  it. 

"  I  generally  know  what  I  am  about,"  con 
tinued  the  detective  pointedly,  "  as  those  who 
are  unwise  enough  to  criticize  my  actions  find 
out,  sooner  or  later." 

The  important  gentleman  did  not  reply,  but 
covered  his  confusion  by  appearing  to  be  ab 
sorbed  in  a  daily  paper  which  he  held  up  be 
fore  his  face. 

"  You  let  him  off  easy,"  said  he  gentleman 
in  the  rear  seat.  "  You  allowed  him  to  take 
the  watch.  I  was  surprised  at  that." 

"  Yes,  for  strange  as  it  may  seem,  it  was 
probably  his,  though  the  money  with  which 
he  bought  it  may  have  been  stolen.  That 
watch  has  been  probably  sold  a  dozen  times, 
and  recovered  the  same  way.  Were  it  a  stolen 
watch,  the  risk  would  be  too  great.  As  it  is, 
I  had  no  pretext  for  arresting  him." 

"Was  it  really  a  ninety  dollar  watch?" 
asked  Walter,  with  interest. 

"  No.  I  know  something  about  watches, 
as  I  find  the  knowledge  useful  in  my  oflirial 
capacity.  The  watch  wonld  be  a  fair  bargain 
at  forty-five  dollars,  but  it  is  showy,  and 


72        Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

would  readily  be  taken  for  one  worth  seventy- 
five  or  even  ninety  dollars." 

"  I  shouldn't  think  the  trick  would  pay," 
said  the  gentleman  in  the  rear  seat. 

"Why  not?" 

"  Twenty  dollars  isn't  a  large  sum  to  be 
divided  between  two  persons,  especially  when 
there's  money  to  be  paid  for  car  fare." 

"  Sometimes  the  watch  is  sold  for  more — 
generally,  I  fancy — but  the  price  was  reduced 
because  the  purchaser  was  a  boy.  Besides, 
these  men  doubtless  have  other  ways  of  mak 
ing  money.  They  are  well-known  confidence 
men.  If  I  hadn't  been  on  board  the  train,  our 
young  friend  here  would  have  lost  his  twenty 
dollars." 

"  It  would  have  been  a  great  loss  to  me," 
said  Walter.  "  I  am  very  much  obliged  to 
you,  Mr.  Green." 

"  Ah,  you  remember  my  name.  Let  me  give 
you  my  card.  Some  time  you  may  get  into 
difficulty  and  want  to  consult  me.  Boys  of 
your  age  are  not  a  match  for  an  experienced 
swindler." 

He  handed  Walter  a  card  bearing  the  name : 

SILAS  GREEN 
97  H  Street 

Walter  put  it  into  his  pocket  with  a  polite 
expression  of  thanks. 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.        73 

Meanwhile,  of  course,  the  cars  were  steadily 
approaching  Chicago.  At  length  they  en 
tered  the  great  Union  Depot,  and  with  the 
rest  of  the  passengers  Walter  alighted,  carry 
ing  his  valise  in  his  hand. 

A  few  feet  in  front  of  him  walked  Jim  Beck- 
with,  but  Walter  did  not  care  to  join  him. 
He  half  turned,  and  as  his  glance  fell  on  Wal 
ter  he  said,  \\  ith  a  scowl :  "  If  you  ever  meet 
rue  again,  you'll  know  me." 

"  Yes,  I  shall !  "  answered  Walter,  with  em 
phasis. 


CHAPTER    X. 

AT  THE   INDIANA   HOUSE. 

WALTER  paused  before  a  modest  hotel  on 
Monroe  Street — we  will  call  it  the  Indiana 
House — and,  entering,  went  up  to  the  desk  and. 
inquired  the  rates  of  board. 

"  Are  you  commercial?  "  asked  the  clerk. 

"  Not  at  present,  sir." 

"  We  make  special  terms  for  commercial 
travelers.  We  will  give  you  a  small  room  on 
the  third  floor  for  one  dollar  and  a  half  a  day." 

This  was  as  cheap  as  Walter  expected  to 
find  it  at  a  hotel,  and  he  signified  his  accept 
ance. 

"  Front !  "  called  the  clerk. 


74        Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

A  red-haired  boy  of  about  Walter's  age 
came  forward. 

"  Take  this  young  man  up  to  No.  36,"  said 
the  clerk. 

"  Yessir,"  answered  the  bell-boy,  pronounc 
ing  the  two  words  in  one. 

There  was  no  elevator  in  the  house,  and 
Walter  followed  the  boy  up  two  flights  of 
stairs  to  the  third  landing.  The  boy  opened 
the  door  of  a  room  with  a  small  window  look 
ing  out  into  an  inner  court. 

"Here  you  are!"  he  said,  and  he  put  the 
valise  on  the  floor. 

"  Thank  you,"  said  Walter. 

As  he  spoke  he  drew  a  dime  from  his  vest 
pocket  and  deposited  it  in  the  hand  of  the  red- 
haired  attendant. 

The  effect  was  magical.  The  bell-boy's  list 
less  manner  vanished,  h;s  dull  face  lighted  up, 
and  his  manner  became  brisk. 

"  Thank  you,  sir.  Is  there  anything  you 
want?  If  you  do,  I'll  get  it  for  you." 

Walter  looked  about  him.  Soap,  water, 
towels — all  were  in  sight. 

"  Not  just  now,"  he  answered,  "  but  I  am 
going  to  take  a  wash,  and  shall  probably  use 
up  all  the  water.  Some  time  this  evening  you 
may  bring  me  some  more." 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.       75 

"  All  right,  sir.  Just  you  ring  when  you 
want  it." 

He  went  off,  and  Walter  was  left  alone. 
First,  he  took  a  thorough  wash,  which  re 
freshed  him  very  much  after  his  long  and 
dusty  ride.  Then  he  changed  his  linen, 
brushed  his  clothes  with  a  hand-brush  he  had 
brought  in  his  valise,  and  carefully  combed 
his  hair. 

"I  feel  a  hundren  per  cent,  better,"  he  solilo 
quized.  "  Here  I  am  in  Chicago,  and  now  the 
battle  of  life  is  to  begin." 

Walter  was  sanguine  and  full  of  hope.  His 
life  had  always  been  easy,  and  he  did  not  know 
what  it  was  to  work  for  a  living.  Besides, 
the  fact  may  as  well  be  told — he  had  a  very 
comfortable  opinion  of  his  own  abilities.  He 
felt  that  he  was  no  common  boy.  Was  he  not 
a  sophomore,  or  rather  a  junior-elect,  of  Eu 
clid  College?  Did  he  not  possess  a  knowl 
edge  more  or  less  extensive  of  Latin,  Greek, 
and  mathematics,  with  a  smattering  of  French 
and  German,  not  to  speak  of  logic,  rhetoric, 
etc.?  For  one  of  his  age,  he  considered  him 
self  quite  accomplished,  and  he  persuaded  him 
self  that  the  world  would  receive  him  at  his 
own  estimate.  It  would  be  very  strange  if  he 
could  not  earn  a  living,  when  hundreds  and 


76        Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

thousands  of  his  age,  without  a  tithe  of  his 
knowledge,  managed  to  live. 

Walter  went  down-stairs1,  and  as  it  would 
not  be  supper  time  for  two  hours,  wont  out  to 
walk.  He  wanted  to  get  some  idea  of  the  busy 
city  which  was,  for  a  time  at  least,  to  be  his 
home.  He  walked  through  Monroe  Street  un- 
till  he  reached  State.  At  the  corner  he  caught 
sight  of  a  palatial  structure,  nearly  opposite. 

"What  building  is  that?"  he  asked  of  a 
boy. 

"Where's  your  eyes?"  returned  the  boy. 
"  That's  the  Palmer  House." 

Walter  gazed  admiringly  at  the  showy 
buildimg,  and  wished  that  he  could  afford  to 
put  up  there.  It  was  as  far  ahead  of  the  In 
diana  House  as  a  city  is  ahead  of  a  country 
village.  He  continued  his  walk  till  he  reached 
the  lake  front,  and  looked  with  interest  at  the 
great  sheet  of  water  which  spread  out  before 
him  like  an  inland  sea.  He  walked  along  the 
lake  front  for  a  few  squares,  and  then,  strik 
ing  back  into  the  city,  saw  the  Tremont  House, 
the  court-house,  the  Sherman  House,  and  other 
handsome  buildings.  On  his  way  he  met  hun 
dreds  of  people  walking  briskly,  and  all  seem 
ing  occupied. 

"  If  all   these  people  make  a  living,  why. 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.        77 

shouldn't  I?"  he  asked  himself.  '•  I  think  I 
am  as  smart  as  the  average." 

Secretly  Walter  thought  himself  a  great 
deal  smarter.  It  must  be  remembered  that 
Walter  was  not  quite  eighteen — a  self-con- 
ceited  age — and  he  overestimated  his  strength 
and  ability.  On  the  whole,  it  is  fortunate 
that  the  young  do  not  comprehend  the  difficult 
struggle  that  lies  before  them,  or  they  would 
become  discouraged  before  they  had  fairly 
entered  upon  it.  It  is  well  that  they  should 
be  hopeful  and  sanguine.  They  are  more 
likely  to  succeed. 

Walter  wandered  around  in  a  desultory 
way,  and  it  was  more  than  an  hour  before  he 
reached  the  hotel  at  which  he  was  stopping. 
As  he  entered  the  public  room  he  started  back 
in  surprise,  as*  his  glance  rested  on  a  man 
wearing  a  white  hat.  Surely  this  was  the 
man  who  had  sold  him  the  gold  watch.  How 
did  it  happen  that  he  was  not  on  the  way  to 
Dakota? 

He  coughed,  with  a  view  to  attracting  the 
attention  of  his  railroad  acquaintance. 

The  ruse  succeeded.  The  man  turned,  and 
evidently  recognized  Walter.  He  looker] 
doubtful,  not  having  yet  met  his  confederate 
nor  learned  how  the  plot  had  come  out. 


78        Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

"  I  believe  I  met  you  on  the  train,"  said 
Walter,  smiling. 

The  smile  decided  the  other  that  it  would 
be  safe  to  acknowledge  the  acquaintance. 

"  Yes,  I  remember  you  now." 

"  You  sold  me  a  watch?  " 

"  Yes,"  answered  the  other  hesitatingly. 

"  I  thought  you  wanted  to  take  a  train  to 
Dakota  this  evening,"  went  on  Walter. 

"So  I  do;  it  doesn't  go  till  eight  o'clock. 
May  I  ask  what  time  it  is?  Y"ou  know  I  sold 
you  my  watch." 

"  I  suppose  that  is  Chicago  time,"  said  Wal 
ter,  pointing  to  a  clock  on  the  left-hand  side 
of  the  office. 

"  I  wonder  whether  he's  got  the  watch 
still?"  thought  the  other.  "He  must  have, 
as  he  makes  no  fuss  about  it." 

Walter  was  waiting  cunningly  to  see  if  his 
railroad  acquaintance  would  betray  himself. 

"  I'm  awfully  sorry  to  part  with  the  watch," 
he  said.  "  If  you  keep  it,  I  may  buy  it  back 
some  time." 

"  I  am  sorry  I  can't  oblige  you,"  said  Wal 
ter,  "  but  I  have  sold  it  already." 

"  Sold  the  watch  already ! "  ejaculated  the 
man  in  the  white  hat.  "  Did  you  sell  it  since 
you  reached  Chicago?  " 

"  No;  I  sold  it  on  the  train." 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.        79 

"  You  don't  mean  it !  "  exclaimed  the  other, 
iu  amazement.  "Who  did  you  sell  it  to?" 

"  To  Jim  Beckwith,"  answered  Walter. 

"  Jim  Beckwith !  " 

The  man  in  the  white  hat  stared  at  Walter 
with  an  air  of  startled  perplexity  that  almost 
made  our  hero  laugh. 

"  Yes,  that's  what  he  said  his  name  was,  or 
rather  somebody  told  me  it  was  his  name." 

"  Jim  Beckwith  bought  that  watch  of  you !  " 
repeated  the  stranger  slowly. 

"Yes;  do  you  know  him?" 

"  I  have  heard  of  him,''  said  the  other,  with 
hesitation. 

"  Oh,  I  nearly  forgot  to  say  that  he  claimed 
the  watch  as  his — said  you  had  stolen  it  from 
him." 

"  Jim  Beckwith  said  that?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  And  you  gave  it  up  to  him?  " 

"  Yes,  but  not  till  he  paid  me  the  twenty 
dollars  I  gave  for  it." 

The  other  was  more  and  more  mystified. 

"  Jim  Beckwith  gave  you  the  twenty  dol 
lars?  "  he  said. 

"  Yes.  That  leaves  me  all  right.  If  you 
want  to  buy  it  back  at  any  time,  you  must  ap 
ply  to  him." 


8o        Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

The  man  in  the  white  hat  stared  at  Walter 
as  if  he  were  a  museum  freak. 

"  Boy,"  he  said,  in  a  tone  of  enforced  ad 
miration,  "you're  smart!" 

"  I  am  glad  you  think  so,  sir,"  returned  Wal 
ter.  "  You  pay  me  a  compliment." 

"  How  old  are  you?  " 

"  Seventeen." 

"  A  seventeen-year-old  boy  who  can  get  the 
better  of  Jim  Beckwith  is  smart,  and  no  mis 
take." 

"  Perhaps  you  wouldn't  mind  telling  me 
whether  it's  true  that  the  watch  belongs  to 
Mr.  Beckwith,  as  he  says." 

"  It  does  now — as  he  paid  for  it." 

"  Is  it  true  that  you  took  it  from  him,  as  he 
says?  " 

"  I  bought  it  of  another  man  who  may  have 
stolen  it  from  him,"  said  he  of  the  white  hat 
cautiously. 

"  Well,  you'll  have  to  settle  with  him.  I'm 
out  of  it !  " 

AVhile  Walter  was'  speaking,  and  extraordi 
nary  change  came  over  the  countenance  of  the 
man  in  the  white  hat.  The  color  faded  from 
his  cheeks',  and  he  half  rose  from  his  seat. 
He  was  not  looking  at  Walter,  but  beyond 
him,  toward  the  door.  Walter  turned,  follow 
ing  his  look,  and  when  he  saw  who  had  entered 
he  understood  the  situation. 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.       81 


CHAPTER  XI. 

THE  MAN  FROM  DAKOrA. 

THE  man  who  had  just  entered  the  reading- 
room  was  no  other  than  Detective  Green. 

He  nodded  pleasantly  to  Walter. 

"  So  you  have  put  up  here,"  he  said.  "  Well, 
it  is  a  good  place.  And  is  this  gentleman  a 
friend  of  yours?"  indicating  the  man  in  the 
white  hat. 

"  I  bought  the  watch  from  him." 

"  Ha !  I  thought  so.  I  see  you  know  me, 
Steve  Ashton." 

"  Yes,  sir,"  answered  Ashton  nervously. 
"  I  hope  you  are  well." 

"  You  are  very  kind.  Then  you  really  hope 
I  am  well?" 

"Of  course.     Why  shouldn't  I?" 

"  Well,  there  are  some  of  your  companions, 
I  fear,  who  are  not  so  cordial — Jim  Beckwith, 
for  instance.  By  the  way,  you  have  some  busi 
ness  arrangements  with  Jim  Beckwith." 

"  I  know  him,  sir,"  answered  Ashton  hesi 
tatingly. 

"  You  know  him  well,  I  suspect.  So  you 
sold  my  young  friend  here  a  watch?  " 


82        Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  At  a  remarkable  sacrifice." 

"  Yes,  sir.  It  is  worth  more  than  he  paid 
me  for  it." 

"  And  yet  it  seemed  likely  to  be  a  losing  bar 
gain  for  him.  It  would  have  been — but  for 
me." 

Ashton  looked  at  Walter  inquiringly.  The 
latter  smiled. 

"  You  gave  me  credit  for  being  smarter  than 
I  was,"  said  Walter.  "  Mr.  Green,  here,  came 
to  my  assistance." 

"  I  think,  Mr.  Ashton,"  said  Detective 
Green,  with  suavity,  "  that  you  have  a  wife 
and  family  in  Dakota." 

"  I,  sir " 

"  Yes-,  and  it  was  to  obtain  money  to  join 
them  that  you  sold  your  watch  on  the  train." 

"  Yes,  sir,"  answered  Ashton  faintly. 

"  I  am  going  to  give  you  a  bit  of  advice.  It 
will  be  wise  for  you  to  go  to  Dakota,  as  you 
planned.  This  is  a  wicked  city — in  spots — 
and  I  am  afraid  you  have  been  keeping  bad 
company.  How  long  have  you  known  Beck- 
with?" 

"  About  six  months." 

"  And  he  drew  you  into  this  business?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.        83 

"  I  thought  so.  You  are  new  to  the  profes 
sion.  Still  I  knew  you.  I  make  it  a  point  to 
get  acquainted  with  the  new  men.  Is  the 
watch  honestly  yours?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Get  it  back  from  Beck  with,  and  then  drop 
his  acquaintance.  If  necessary,  leave  Chicago. 
Have  you  a  trade?  " 

"  Yes,  sir.     I  am  a  machinist." 

"  It  is  a  good  trade.  Go  back  to  it.  Is  that 
advice  friendly?  " 

"  Yes,  sir,"  answered  Ashton,  with  more 
confidence.  "  I  didn't  expect  to  get  friendly 
advice  from  Detective  Green." 

"  Perhaps  not.  You  didn't  know  me,  that 
was  all.  You  looked  upon  me  as  an  enemy,  I 
suppose? " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  I  am  an  enemy  to  those  who  are  incurably 
bad.  I  think  you  were  meant  for  an  honest 
man." 

"  So  I  was,  sir.  I  should  be  still  if  I  hadn't 
.met  with  Jim  Beck  with." 

"  llave  done  with  him,  then !  If  you  follow 
my  advice  you  need  not  fear  meeting  with  me 
again." 

The  detective  went  up  to  the  desk,  bought  a 
cigar,  and  then  left  the  room,  with  a  nod  to 
Ashton  and  Walter, 


84        Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

"  Will  you  follow  his  advice?  "  asked  Wal 
ter. 

"  Yes,  I  will.  Hereafter  I  will  depend  upon 
honest  work  for  an  honest  livelihood.  What 
is  your  name?  " 

"  Walter  Sherwood." 

"  Then,  Walter  Sherwood,  I  am  glad  I  did 
not  succeed  in  robbing  you.  Yet  I  am  glad 
I  met  you.  It  will  lead  to  my  reformation. 
Will  you  give  me  your  hand?  " 

"  Willingly." 

Steve  Ashton  shook  the  proffered  hand  ener 
getically. 

"  If  I  can  do  you  a  favor  at  any  time,  I  shall 
be  glad  to  do  so." 

"  Perhaps  you  can.  I  cannot  afford  to 
live  at  a  hotel.  Can  you  recommend  me  to 
some  respectable  but  modest-priced  boarding- 
house?  " 

"Yes;  the  widow  of  a  machinist  who  used 
to  be  employed  in  the  same  shop  as  myself 
keeps  a  few  boarders.  I  think  she  would  take 
you  for  six  dollars  a  week,  or  five  if  you  have 
a  friend  to  room  with  you." 

"  Can  you  show  me  the  place  after  supper — • 
that  is,  unless  you  are  in  a  hurry  to  start  for 
Dakota?"  he  added,  with  a  smile. 

"  I  never  was  in  Dakota  in  my  life,"  said 
Ashtoji,  "  I  told  you  a  lie," 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.        85 

"  I  was  beginning  to  think  so.'' 

"  But  I  shall  drop  all  that.  From  this  time 
on  you  can  trust  me." 

After  supper  Walter  went  round  with  Ash- 
ton  to  a  house  in  Harrison  Street — the  board 
ing-house  referred  to.  The  door  was  opened 
by  a  careworn  woman  of  middle  age. 

"  How  do  you  do,  Mr.  Ashton?  "  she  said, 
with  an  inquiring  look. 

"  Very  well,  thank  you,  Mrs.  Canfield. 
Have  you  any  rooms  vacant?  " 

"  Are  you  asking  for  yourself?  " 

"  No,  for  my  young  friend  here,  Mr.  Sher 
wood." 

"  Do  you  want  a  large  room  or  a  small 
one?  "  asked  Mrs.  Canfield,  brightening  up  a 
little. 

"  That  depends  a  little  on  the  price,"  an 
swered  Walter. 

"  I  can  give  you  a  hall  bedroom  and  board 
for  five  dollars  and  a  half  a  week." 

"Can  you  show  me  the  room?" 

"  Be  kind  enough  to  follow  me." 

Walter  followed  the  landlady  up  a  narrow 
staircase,  or  rather  two  of  them,  and  was 
shown  a  hall  bedroom,  which  seemed  to  be  un 
comfortably  full,  though  it  only  contained  a 
bedstead,  a  chair,  a  very  small  bureau,  and  a 
wash-stand.  There  was  scarcely  room  for 


86        Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

him  to  stand  unless  he  stood  on  the  bed.  It 
was  indeed  vastly  different  from  his  nice  col 
lege  room  and  from  his  comfortable  chamber 
at  home. 

"  I  should  like  to  see  a  larger  room,"  said 
Walter,  not  venturing  to  make  any  comment 
on  the  hall  room. 

He  was  shown  an  adjoining  apartment, 
about  ten  feet  by  twelve.  It  was  small,  but 
decidedly  preferable  to  the  other. 

"  How  much  do  you  charge  for  this  room, 
Mrs.  Canfield?" 

"  I  shall  have  to  charge  you  six  dollars  if 
you  occupy  it  alone,  but  if  you  can  get  another 
young  gentleman  to  occupy  it  with  you,  I  will 
say  ten  dollars  for  the  two." 

"  I  will  take  it  alone  at  first.  Can  I  move 
in  to-morrow  morning?  " 

"  I  will  have  it  ready  for  you  by  eleven 
o'clock." 

"  That  will  do." 

"  How  do  you  like  it?  "  asked  Ashton,  when 
they  were  in  the  street. 

"  I  think  I  can  make  it  do." 

"  I  suppose  you  have  been  used  to  something 
better?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  I  can  direct  you  to  a  better  house." 

"  Thank  you,  but  six  dollars'  a  week  is  all  I 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.        87 

can  afford  at  present.  I  have  no  income,  but 
I  shall  look  for  a  place  at  once.-' 

"  You  haven't  any  trade,  have  you?  " 

"  No,"  answered  Walter,  with  a  smile. 
Brought  up  as  he  had  been,  it  seemed  odd  to 
be  asked  if  lie  had  a  trade. 

"  Some  trades  pay  very  well.  I  have  a 
nephew  who  is  a  bricklayer.  He  gets  from 
three  to  four  dollars  a  day." 

"  I  am  afraid  I  should  not  like  that  busi 
ness.  Besides,  it  would  take  a  good  while  to 
learn  it." 

Walter  smiled  to  himself  as  he  pictured 
some  of  his  aristrocratic  college  friends  seeing 
him  laying  bricks.  He  was  not  a  snob,  nor 
would  he  have  disdained  to  notice  a  friend  or 
school  companion  filling  such  a  position,  but 
he  felt  that  Providence  must  have  something 
in  store  for  him  more  congenial,  though  per 
haps  less  lucrative. 

"  I  have  a  cousin  who  is  a  carpenter,"  pro 
ceeded  Ashton.  "  He  makes  his  two  dollars 
and  a  half  a  day,  and  supports  a  wife  and 
three  children  in  comfort." 

"  I  wonder  if  I  could  support  a  family  on 
fifteen  dollars  a  week,"  thought  Walter. 
"  Fortunately,  I  have  only  to  support  myself. 
I  ought  to  be  able  to  do  that  in  a  large  city 
like  Chicago." 


88        Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

Reared  in  comfort,  Walter  knew  very  little 
of  the  competition  and  struggles  of  working 
men,  and  had  an  idea  that  he  would  be  able 
easily  to  command  a  salary  of  ten  dollars  a 
week,  though  he  was  wholly  disqualified  for 
any  special  line  of  business.  This  he  set  down 
as  the  minimum.  Paying  six  dollars  a  week 
for  board,  he  calculated  that  he  could  get 
along  on  this  salary  with  extreme  economy. 
Fortunately  he  was  pretty  well  provided  with 
clothing,  or  would  be  when  he  had  sent  for  his 
trunk,  and  would  not  find  it  necessary  for 
some  time  to  come  to  purchase  anything,  ex 
cept  probably  a  pair  of  shoes',  a  necktie,  or 
some  trifle.  Then  probably  his  pay  would 
soon  be  raised,  and  this  would  make  him  com 
fortable. 

That  evening  Walter  went  to  Hooley's  Thea 
ter,  and  occupied  a  dollar  seat.  It  was 
hardly  prudent,  but  he  had  seventy  dollars 
still,  and  that  seemed  to  him  a  large  sum.  He 
enjoyed  the  play,  and  got  a  sound  night's  rest 
after  it. 

The  next  morning  he  settled  his  hotel  bill, 
took  his  gripsack  in  his  hand,  and  walked 
over  to  his  new  boarding-house. 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.        89 
CHAPTER  XII. 

IN  SEARCH  OF  EMPLOYMENT. 

"  WANTED — A  young  man  of  seventeen  or 
eighteen  in  an  insurance  office,  No.  169  La 
Salle  Street," 

This  notice  attracted  the  attention  of  Wal 
ter  as  he  ran  his  eyes  over  the  advertising  col 
umns  of  the  Chicago  Times  on  the  second  day 
after  his  arrival  in  the  city. 

"  I  think  that  will  suit  me,"  he  said  to  him 
self.  "  It  is  a  nice,  respectable  business1  and 
I  think  I  should  like  it.  I  will  go  to  the  office 
and  make  inquiries." 

He  entered  a  large  building,  devoted  to  of 
fices,  and  ascended  to  the  third  story,  where 
he  found  the  office  of  Perkins  &  Windermcre, 
the  names  given  in  the  advertisement.  A 
young  man  of  about  his  own  age  was  coming 
out  of  the  office  as  he  entered — an  unsuccess 
ful  applicant,  Walter  inferred. 

Opening  the  door,  he  saw  a  man  of  about 
forty  seated  in  a  revolving  chair  at  a  desk. 

"  I  believe  you  advertised  for  an  assistant,'7 


Qo        Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

began  Walter,  as  the  occupant  of  the  chair 
turned  round. 

"  Yes,"  answered  Mr.  Perkins — for  it  was 
he — eying  Walter  with  a  scrutinizing  glance. 

"  I  would  like  to  apply  for  the  position." 

"Humph!  Do  you  know  anything  of  the 
insurance  business?  " 

"  Not  practically,  sir." 

"  That's  against  you." 

"  I  think  I  could  soon  familiarize  myself 
with  it  so  as  to  make  myself  useful.' 

"  How  old  are  you?  " 

"  Very  nearly  eighteen." 

"  Do  you  live  in  Chicago?  " 

"  I  do  now.  I  have  recently  come  from  the 
East." 

"What  education  have  you?" 

"  I  have  spent  two  years  at  Euclid  College," 
answered  Walter,  with  conscious  pride. 

"  So  you  are  a  college  student?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Humph !    That  won't  do  you  any  good.'' 

"  I  hope  it  won't  do  me  any  harm,  sir,"  said 
Walter,  somewhat  nettled. 

"  No,  unless  it  has  made  you  conceited.  I 
am  a  graduate  of  the  People's  College." 

"  I  don't  think  I  have  heard  of  that,  sir." 

"  I  mean  the  common  school.  Don't  think 
much  of  college  myself.  They  don't  help  in 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.        91 

our  business.  They  didn't  have  any  insurance 
companies  in  Greece  or  Rome,  did  they?" 

"  I  never  heard  of  any,  sir." 

"  I  thought  not.  You  see  we  of  to-day  are 
rather  ahead  of  Demosthenes  and  Cicero,  and 
those  old  fellows.  I  suppose  Rome  was  quite 
a  sizable  place." 

"  I  have  always  heard  so,"  answered  Walter. 

"  I'll  bet  a  quarter  it  wasn't  as  big  or  as 
smart  a  place  as  Chicago.  I  don't  believe  they 
had  any  such  hotel  there  as  the  Palmer  House, 
or  any  dry-goods  store  as  big  as  Marshall 
Field's." 

"  I  don't  believe  they  did,"  Walter  admit 
ted. 

"  Did  Rome  ever  win  the  baseball  champion 
ship?  "  demanded  Mr.  Perkins. 

"  No,  sir." 

"  I  thought  not  Then  what's  the  use  in 
spending  four  years  over  those  old  fellers? 
How  is  it  going  to  help  you?  " 

"  I  don't  expect  it  will  help  me  to  earn  a 
lining,  sir.  Do  you  think  you  can  employ 
me?" 

"  What  are  your  ideas  as  to  a  salary,  young 
man?" 

"  I  thought  of  ten  dollars,"  said  Walter  hesi 
tatingly. 

"  Ten    dollars ! "    ejaculated    Mr.    Perkins. 


92        Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

"  Just  what  I  thought.  Because  you've  been 
to  college  you  think  you  are  worth  a  big  sal^ 
ary." 

"  Do  you  call  that  a  big  salary,  sir?  "  asked 
Walter,  disconcerted. 

"  It  wouldn't  be  if  you  had  a  couple  of  years' 
experience,  but  for  a  beginner  it  is  simply — 
enormous." 

"  What  did  you  expect  to  pay?  "  asked  Wai, 
ter,  in  a  depressed  tone. 

"  Five  dollars  is  about  the  figure." 

"  I  couldn't  work  for  that,  sir.  It  wouldn't 
pay  my  board." 

"  Where  are  you  boarding — at  the  Palmer 
House?*'  inquired  Perkins,  rather  sarcastic 
ally. 

"  No,  sir.  I  am  at  a  cheap  boarding-house 
on  Harrison  Street,  where  I  pay  six  dollars  a 
week,"  answered  Walter,  with  spirit. 

"  Then  I  don't  think  we  can  make  a  bar 
gain,  although  I  rather  like  your  looks." 

This,  at  any  rate,  was  a  little  encouraging. 

"  But  I  can't  pay  your  figure.  I'll  tell  you 
what  you'd  better  do." 

"  I  shall  be  glad  of  any  advice." 

"  Become  an  agent.  You  look  as  if  you  had 
a  gift  of  the  gab.  A  successful  life-insurance 
agent  will  make  a  good  deal  more  than  ten 
dollars  a  week." 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.        93 

"  Can  I  get  such  a  position?  "  asked  Walter 
hopefully. 

"  Yes,  I'll  employ  you  myself,  on  a  commis 
sion,  of  course.  You'll  be  paid  according  to 
your  work.  I've  known  an  agent  to  make  a 
hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars  in  a  single 
week." 

"  If  you  think  I  can  do  it,  sir,  I'll  try." 

"  Very  well.  Have  you  ever  studied  life-in 
surance?  " 

"  No,  sir,  but  I  have  a  general  idea  of  it.'' 

"  I  will  give  some  documents — instructions 
to  agents,  etc.  Take  these  home,  study  them, 
and  come  to  me  when  you  think  you  under 
stand  it  well  enough  to  talk  people  into  it." 

Mr.  Perkins  opened  his  desk,  and,  selecting 
some  papers,  handed  them  to  Walter. 

"  When  you  come  again,  if  there  is  anything 
you  don't  see  into,  let  me  know,  and  I'll  ex 
plain  it  to  you." 

"  Thank  you,  sir." 

Walter  went  home  and  set  himself  to  study 
ing  the  insurance  documents  given  him  by  Mr. 
Perkins.  Here  he  found  his  college  training 
of  service.  It  was  like  studying  a  science. 
and  Walter,  who  went  to  work  methodically, 
soon  came  to  understand  the  system,  with  the 
arguments  for  and  against  it.  He  made  cal- 
qulations  of  the  expenses  attending  the 


94        Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

ent  classes  of  life-insurance,  selecting  the  ages 
of  thirty,  forty,  and  fifty  as  illustrations.  The 
result  was  that  when  he  went  round  to  the 
office  the  next  day  he  felt  considerable  confi 
dence  in  his  ability  to  talk  up  insurance. 

Mr.  Perkins  seemed  surprised  to  see  him  so 
soon. 

"  Do  you  think  you  understand  the  duties  of 
a  canvasser?  "  he  asked. 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  You  haven't  devoted  much  time  to  it. 
You  only  took  the  documents  yesterday." 

"  True,  sir;  but  I  have  spent  several  hours 
in  examining  them." 

"  Were  there  any  things  you  did  not  under 
stand?" 

Walter  mentioned  one  or  two  points. 

"  Now,  that  I  may  get  an  idea  of  your  work 
ing  ability,  suppose  you  try  to  insure  me.  I 
will  take  the  part  of  an  ordinary  business 
man,  who  is  unfamiliar  with  the  subject." 

Walter  was  not  bashful,  and  saw  at  once 
the  value  of  this  suggestion. 

Without  going  into  details,  it  may  be  stated 
that  he  acquitted  himself  very  creditably. 

"  You  surprise  me,"  Mr.  Perkins  admitted. 
"  You  seem  to  have  made  yourself  quite  famil 
iar  with  the  subject,  I  will  take  you  into  my 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.        95 

employment  as  an  agent,  and  allow  you  half 
commission." 

"  Do  you  wish  me  to  operate  in  the  city." 

"  It  will  be  better  for  you  to  start  outside.  I 
will  send  you  to  Elm  Bank,  about  fifteen  miles 
distant  Once  there,  I  shall  leave  you  to  your 
own  discretion.  I  will  pay  your  fare  there 
and  back,  and  trust  to  your  doing  something 
to  repay  me  for  my  outlay." 

"  Very  well,  sir." 

Walter  took  the  necessary  directions,  and 
after  dinner  took  a  train  out  to  the  suburban 
town  which  I  have  called  Elm  Bank,  though 
this  is  not  the  real  name.  He  congratulated 
himself  on  so  soon  obtaining  employment, 
though  it  remained  to  be  seen  how  he  would 
succeed.  However,  Walter  was  sanguine,  not 
as  yet  having  put  himself  in  a  position  to  meet 
the  rebuffs  which  are  sure  to  lie  in  wait  for 
agents  of  any  kind.  lie  thought  over  his  pros 
pects  with  pleased  anticipations.  He  felt  that 
the  position  was  much  higher  than  that  of  a 
boy  in  an  office.  It  was  one  usually  filled  by 
men  of  maturity  and  business  experience.  Be 
sides,  if  successful,  the  rewards  would  be  am 
ple.  The  thought  of  the  agent  who  made  a 
hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars  in  a  single 
week  occurred  to  him  and  encouraged  him. 
He  would  have  been  content  with  a  salary  of 


96        Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

ten  dollars  a  week,  but  here  was  a  business 
which  might  lead  to  a  great  deal  more. 

He  seated  himself  next  to  a  girl  of  sixteen 
with  a  pleasant  face  and  frank,  cordial  man 
ner. 

Presently  the  girl  tried  to  raise  the  win 
dow — she  occupied  the  seat  next  to  it — but  it 
resisted  her  efforts. 

"  Will  you  allow  me  to  try?  "  asked  Walter 
politely. 

"  Thank  you.     You  are  very  kind." 

Walter  leaned  over  and  succeeded  in  rais 
ing  it. 

"  Thank  you,"  said  the  young  lady.  "  I  am 
only  going  to  Elm  Bank,  but  I  like  the  fresh 
air,  even  for  a  short  distance." 

Here  was  a  surprise  for  Walter. 

"Are  you  going  to  Elm  Bank?"  he  said. 
«  So  am  I." 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

A  YOUNG  INSURANCE  AGENT. 

"You  don't  live  in  Elm  Bank?"  said  the 
young  girl  inquiringly. 

"  No,"  answered  Walter,  swelling  with  par- 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.        97 

donable  pride.  "  I  am  going  there  on  busi 
ness." 

"  Have  you  ever  been  there  before?  "  asked 
his  fair  companion. 

"  No." 

"  You  look  young  to  be  in  business." 

"  I  haven't  been  in  business  long,"  returned 
Walter,  wondering  if  he  looked  so  very  young. 
Then  he  added,  with  a  sudden  impulse,  "  I  am 
an  insurance  agent." 

"Are  you?     I— I  thought— 

"What  did  you  think?"  asked  WTalter,  a 
little  curious. 

"  I  would  rather  not  say  it." 

"  I  wish  you  would." 

"  You  will  promise  not  to  be  offended?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  I  have  been  told  that  insurance  agents  are 
very  cheeky." 

Walter  laughed. 

"  I  don't  know  about  that,"  he  said.  "  I 
haven't  been  in  the  business  long  enough  yet. 
])o  you  know  if  any  insurance  agents1  have  vis 
ited  Elm  Bank  lately?" 

"  No,  I  don't  think  so." 

"  Perhaps  you  would  like  to  have  your  life 
insured?  "  said  Walter,  with  a  humorous  look. 

"Can  you  insure  me  fifty  cents'  worth?" 

"  I  am  afraid  not." 


98        Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

"  Then  I  must  put  it  off,  for  that  is  all  the 
money  I  have." 

Conversation  drifted  into  other  channels, 
and  was  kept  up  till  the  cars  slowed  down  and 
the  conductor,  putting  his  head  in  at  the  door, 
called  out  "  Elm  Bank." 

Walter  and  his  companion  rose,  and,  leaving 
the  car,  stepped  out  on  the  platform.  Wal 
ter  asked  leave  to  carry  a  small  bundle  be 
longing  to  the  young  lady. 

"  Could  you  recommend  any  one  who  is 
likely  to  want  his  life  insured?  "  he  asked. 

His  companion  pointed  to  a  small  house 
some  quarter  of  a  mile  distant,  but  plainly  vis 
ible  on  account  of  its  high  location. 

"  That  house  belongs  to  a  German  named 
Louis  Fishbach,"  she  said.  "  He  has  a  little 
money,  and  earns  good  wages  in  a  shoe  shop. 
He  has  a  wife  and  four  young  children.  Per 
haps  he  will  be  willing  to  insure." 

"  Thank  you.     I  will  try  him." 

"  I  will  leave  you  here,  as  I  live  in  a  differ 
ent  direction.  I  am  sure  I  am  much  obliged 

to  you  for  your  politeness,  Mr. ,"  here  she 

hesitated. 

"  Sherwood,"  supplied  Walter. 

"  Mr.  Sherwood.  My  name  is  Jennie  Gil 
bert." 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.        99 

"  Good  afternoon,  Miss  Jennie,"  said  Wal 
ter,  politely  removing  his  hat. 

He  stopped  a  moment  and  watched  the  re 
treating  figure  of  the  young  girl. 

"  I  hope  I  shall  meet  her  again  some  time," 
he  said  to  himself. 

"  I  say,  who  be  you?  " 

Walter  turned  quickly,  and  found  himself 
confronted  by  a  stout,  hulking  young  fellow, 
broad-shouldered,  and  dressed  in  country  fash 
ion.  He  was1,  judging  from  his  appearance, 
about  twenty-one  years  o£  age.  His  tone  and 
face  indicated  that  he  was  displeased. 

"  Why  do  you  want  to  know?  "  asked  Wal 
ter  coldly. 

"Why  do  I  want  to  know?  I'll  tell  you 
why  I  want  to  know.  I  ain't  goin'  to  have 
any  city  dude  chinning  up  to  my  best  girl." 

"Is  Miss  Jennie  Gilbert  your  best  girl?" 
asked  WTalter. 

"  Well,  she  can  be  if  she  wants  to  be.  I 
picked  her  out  a  year  ago,  and  as*  soon  as 
she  is  old  enough  I'm  goin'  to  let  her  know  it." 

"  Then  she  isn't  your  best  girl  now?  " 

"No  matter  whether  she  is  or  not.  I  ain't; 
goin'  to  have  you  paying  'tentions  to  her." 

"  I  don't  see  what  business  it  is  of  yours," 
retorted  Walter. 

*'  You'll  find  it  out  if  I  give  you  a  lickin' !  " 


ioo     Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

growled  the  other,  handling  the  stick  which  hi: 
carried  in  a  suggestive  manner. 

Walter  was  inclined  to  retort  in  kind,  but 
all  at  once  it  struck  him  as  foolish  to  get  into 
a  quarrel  about  a  girl  whom  he  had  known  less 
than  an  hour. 

"  If  it  will  make  you  feel  any  better,"  he 
said,  "  I'll  tell  you  that  I  got  acquainted  with 
Miss  Gilbert  in  the  cars  this  afternoon.  I 
never  met  her  before,  and  as  I  live  in  Chicago 
I  don't  suppose  I  shall  ever  meet  her  again." 

The  young  man's*  face  cleared  up 

"  Come,  that's  honest,"  he  said.  "  I 
thought  you  wanted  to  cut  me  out." 

"  If  Miss  Gilbert  likes  you  I  sha'n't  inter 
fere,"  he  said.  "Now,  I'm  going  to  talk  busi 
ness.  I  would  like  to  insure  your  life." 

"  What's  that?  You  ain't  a  doctor,  be 
you?" 

"  No." 

Walter  proceeded  to  explain  in  as  simple 
terms  as  he  could  command  the  object  and 
methods  of  life-insurance. 

The  young  man  scratched  his  head. 

"  WThen  do  I  get  the  money?  "  he  asked. 

"  It  is  paid  after  your  death." 

"  Then  it  won't  do  me  any  good." 

"  No;  but  suppose  you  have  a  wife  and  chil- 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      101 

dren — you  would  like  to  leave  them  something, 
wouldn't  you?  " 

"  I  might  live  longer  than  my  wrife,"  sug 
gested  the  young  man  triumphantly. 

Walter  found  that  his  new  acquaintance 
could  only  be  influenced  by  considerations  of 
personal  advantage,  and  was1  compelled  to  give 
up  the  attempt  to  insure  him. 

He  kept  on  his  way  till  he  reached  the  house 
of  Mr.  Fish  bach,  to  whom  he  had  been  recom 
mended. 

Fortunately  for  his  purpose,  the  shoe  shop 
in  which  the  German  was  employed  was  closed 
for  the  day,  and  Walter  found  him  at  home 
mending  a  wagon  in  the  back  yard. 

"  Good  afternoon,  Mr.  Fishbach,"  said  Wal 
ter,  raising  his  hat  politely. 

"  I  don't  know  who  you  are,"  answered  Mr. 
Fishbach,  with  a  scrutinizing  glance. 

"  I  should  like  to  insure  your  life." 

"  You  want  to  insure  my  life — what's  dat?  " 

"  If  you  will  tell  me  your  age,  I  will  ex 
plain  to  you." 

"  I  was  forty-nine  next  Christmas.  You 
ain't  the  census  man,  eh?  " 

"No;  that  is  quite  another  matter.  Now, 
Mr.  Fishbach,"  continued  Walter,  referring  to 
a  pamphlet  in  his  hand,  "  if  you  will  pay  to 
the  company  which  I  represent  forty-four  dol- 


IO2      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

lars  every  year,  when  you  die  a  thousand  dol 
lars  will  be  paid  to  your  wife,  or  any  one  else 
you  may  name." 

"  You  don't  pay  me  till  I  am  dead,  eh?  " 

"  No." 

"How  will  I  know  you  pay  then?" 

"  We  do  business  on  the  square.  We  keep 
our  promises." 

"  You  pay  the  money  to  my  widow,  eh?  " 

"  Yes.  If  you  pay  twice  as  much  we  will 
pay  two  thousand  dollars." 

"  What  good  will  that  do  me,  eh?  " 

"  You  will  like  to  leave  your  wife  comfort 
able,  won't  you?  " 

"If  she  gets  much  money,  she'll  maybe 
marry  again." 

"  Perhaps  so." 

"  And  the  money  will  go  to  her  second  hus 
band,  eh?" 

"  If  she  chooses  to  give  it  to  him." 

"  By  jiminy,  that  won't  suit  me.  I  will 
spend  my  money  myself." 

"  But  if  you  die,  how  will  your  wife  and 
children  get  along?  " 

"  What  makes  you  think  I'm  goin'  to  die? 
eh?  Do  I  look  delicate?" 

As  WTalter  surveyed  the  stout,  rotund  figure 
of  Mr.  Fishbach,  he  could  not  help  laughing 
at  the  idea  of  his  being  delicate. 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      103 

"  You  look  likely  to  live,"  he  was  forced 
to  admit.  "  Still,  life  is  uncertain." 

"  You  can't  scare  Louis  Fishbach,  young 
man.  My  father  lived  till  seventy-seven,  and 
my  mother  was  seventy-five.  My  children  can 
take  care  of  themselves  when  I  die,  and  they 
can  look  after  the  old  woman." 

Walter  used  such  other  arguments  as  oc 
curred  to  him,  but  his  German  friend  was  not 
to  be  moved,  and  he  rather  despondently  put 
his  documents  into  his  pocket,  and  went  out 
into  the  street. 

"  I  had  no  idea  I  should  find  it  so  difficult," 
he  reflected. 

Life-insurance  seemed  to  him  so  beneficent, 
and  so  necessary  a  protection  for  those  who 
would  otherwise  be  unprovided  for,  that  he 
could  not  understand  how  any  one  who  cared 
for  his  wife  and  children  could  fail  to  avail 
himself  of  its  advantages. 

After  leaving  the  house  of  Mr.  Fishbach  he 
kept  on  in  the  same  direction.  Being  un 
acquainted  in  Elm  Bank,  he  had  to  trust  to 
chance  to  guide  him. 

A  little  distance  beyond  was  an  old-fash 
ioned,  two-story  house. 

"  Perhaps  I  had  better  call,"  thought  Wal 
ter,  and  he  entered  the  path  that  led  to  the 
side  door.  He  had  scarcely  taken  three  steps 


104      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

when  he  was  startled  by  a  scream  that  seemed 
to  proceed  from  the  interior. 

"  Help !  Help ! "  was  the  cry  that  reached 
him. 

He  started  to  run,  and,  on  reaching  the 
door,  opened  it  without  ceremony.  The  sight 
that  confronted  him  Avas  one  to  test  his  cour 
age. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

AN  EXCITING  ENCOUNTER. 

To  understand  the  scene  in  which  Walter 
became  an  actor  a  brief  explanation  is  neces 
sary. 

The  occupant  of  the  house  wras  a  woman  of 
perhaps  thirty-five.  Her  husband,  Ephraim 
Gregory,  was  employed  in  Chicago,  and  went 
to  and  from  the  city  every  day.  It  was  some 
what  inconvenient  to  live  at  Elm  Bank,  but 
both  he  and  his  wife  were  fond  of  the  country, 
and  were  willing  to  submit  to  some  incon 
venience  for  the  sake  of  the  sweet,  pure  air 
and  rural  surroundings.  They  had  one  child, 
a  little  girl  of  five. 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      105 

Twenty  minutes  previous  Mrs.  Gregory  had 
been  sitting  at  her  sewing,  with  little  Rosa 
on  the  floor  beside  her,  when,  without  the 
ceremony  of  a  knock,  the  outer  door  was 
opened,  and  a  tall,  powerful  man,  whose  garb 
and  general  appearance  indicated  that  he  was 
a  tramp,  entered  the  room. 

"  What  do  you  want?  "  asked  Mrs.  Gregory, 
rising  in  alarm. 

"  I'm  hungry,"  answered  the  tramp,  in  a 
hoarse  voice. 

He  might  be  hungry,  but  his  breath  indi 
cated  that  he  had  been  drinking.  Mrs.  Greg 
ory  would  gladly  have  dismissed  him,  but  she 
was  afraid  to  do  so.  If  only  her  husband  had 
been  at  home! 

"  Sit  down,"  she  said,  "  and  I  will  find  you 
something." 

She  went  to  the  pantry  and  returned  writh 
some  bread  and  cold  meat,  which  she  set  be 
fore  her  uncouth  visitor. 

"  If  you  will  wait  five  minutes  I  will  make 
you  some  tea,"  she  said. 

"  I  don't  want  any  slops,"  said  her  visitor 
scornfully.  "Give  me  brandy!" 

"  I  have  none." 

"Then  whiskey,  gin — anything!" 

"  We  don't  keep  liquors  in  the  house.  My 
husband  and  I  never  drink  them." 


io6      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

At  this  he  swore  in  a  manner  that  terrified, 
his  unwilling  hostess,  and  anathematized  her 
for  a  temperance  crank.  This  aroused  her 
spirit. 

"  If  you  want  liquor,"  she  said,  "  you  must 
go  where  it  is  sold.  I  won't  supply  it  to  you 
or  anybody  else.  If  you  want  hot  tea  you  can 
have  it." 

"  Give  it  to  me,  then." 

Mrs.  Gregory  hastened  to  steep  some  tea — 
she  had  hot  water  all  ready — and  set  it  before 
the  ruffian.  He  ate  and  drank  eagerly,  vora 
ciously,  and  did  not  leave  a  crumb  behind 
him.  He  had  certainly  spoken  the  truth  when 
he  said  he  was  hungry.  Then  he  arose,  and 
she  hoped  he  would  go.  But  he  turned  to  her 
with  a  significant  look. 

"  I  want  money,"  he  said. 

"  I  can  give  you  none/'  she  answered,  her 
heart  sinking. 

"  Oh,  yes,  you  can." 

"  Are  you  a  thief?  "  she  demanded,  with  a 
flash  of  spirit. 

"  You  can  call  me  that  if  you  like." 

There  was  little  hope  of  shaming  him,  she 
saw. 

"  Look  here,  missis,"  he  went  on  roughly, 
"you've  got  money  in  the  house,  and  I  must 
bave  it." 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      107 

"  How  do  you  know  that  I  have  money  in 
the  house? " 

"  Your  husband  brought  some  home  last 
night.  It  is  here  now.'' 

This  was  true,  and  she  was  startled  to  find 
how  much  this  man  knew. 

"  Do  you  know  my  husband?  "  she  asked. 

"  Yes,  I  know  him.  His  name  is  Ephraim 
Gregory.  He  had  some  money  paid  him 
yesterday,  and  it  is  here.  I  don't  know  where 
it  is,  but  you  do.  Get  it,  and  be  quick  about 
it ! " 

Mrs.  Gregory  saw  by  this  time  that  her 
visitor  was  a  desperate  villain  and  that  she 
was  in  a  critical  position.  He  might,  since  he 
knew  so  much,  know  the  amount  of  money 
which  her  husband  had  entrusted  to  her  for 
safe  keeping.  If  she  could  buy  him  off  for  five 
dollars  she  would  do  so. 

"  Will  you  go  if  I  give  you  five  dollars?  " 
she  asked. 

He  laughed. 

"  No,  I  won't.  W>hy  should  I  take  five  dol 
lars  when  you  have  a  hundred  here?  " 

She  turned  pale.  The  worst  was  true,  then, 
This  man  had  in  some  mysterious  manner  dis 
covered  the  exact  sum  which  she  had  in 
charge.  Why  had  not  her  husband  kept  it 


io8      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

in  liis  own  possession?     It  would  have  been 
more  prudent. 

"  I  can't  give  you  the  money,"  she  said,  pale 
but  resolute. 

"  Oh,  yes,  you  will ! "  he  answered  mock 
ingly. 

"  Go  away,  please,"  she  said,  in  a  pleading 
tone.  "  I  have  given  you  a  meal,  though  you 
had  no  claim  on  me.  Let  that  be  sufficient." 

"You  can't  fool  me!"  he  replied  roughly. 
"  Bring  me  the  money,  or  it  will  be  the  worse 
for  you ! " 

"  I  cannot ! "  she  gasped. 

"Then,  by  Heaven,  I'll  brain  you!" 

As1  he  spoke  he  raised  the  chair  on  which 
he  had  been  sitting  and  held  it  in  position 
above  his  head,  ready  to  bring  it  down  upon 
the  helpless  woman. 

Then  it  was  that  she  uttered  the  piercing 
scream  which  brought  Walter  into  the  house. 

His  astonished  glance  rested  on  the  terrified 
woman,  with  her  little  girl  clinging  in  alarm 
to  her  dress,  cowering  beneath  the  chair 
which  seemed  ready  to  descend  upon  her. 

Walter  did  not  hesitate  a  moment.  Though 
the  tramp  was  possessed  of  twice  his  strength, 
he  darted  forward  and  grasped  him  by  the 
arm. 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      109 

"r  What  are  you  about? "  lie  demanded 
sternly. 

The  tramp  turned  at  the  unexpected  inter 
ference  and  partially  lowered  the  chair. 

"  What  business  is  it  of  yours*,  you  impu 
dent  young  jackanapes?  "  he  growled. 

"  I  will  make  it  my  business,"  said  Walter 
bravely.  "  I  won't  see  a  lady  struck  down  by 
a  ruffian ! " 

"  Take  care  how  you  talk ;  I  can  twist  you 
round  my  finger,  you  manikin ! " 

"  What  does  this  man  want?  *'  asked  Wal 
ter,  turning  to  Mrs.  Gregory. 

"  He  demands  money,"  was  her  answer. 

"  So  he  is  a  thief!  "  exclaimed  Walter  con 
temptuously. 

"  I'll  fix  you  for  that ! "  growled  the  tramp, 
with  a  frown. 

Walter  quickly  explored  the  room  in  search 
of  a  weapon,  for  he  saw  that  he  would  have 
to  defend  himself. 

There  was  a  fireplace  in  the  apartment,  and 
resting  beside  it  was  a.  poker  of  large  size. 
Walter  sprang  for  this,  and  grasping  it  firmly, 
brandished  it  in  a  threatening  manner. 

"  Go  up-stairs1,  madam,"  he  said,  "  and  lock 
yourself  in.  I  will  attend  to  this  man." 

The  tramp  burst  into  a  contemptuous  laugh. 

"  Why,  you  young  whipper-snapper  I  "  he 


no      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

said,  "  I  could  handle  half-a-dozen  boys  like 
you." 

"  I  don't  like  to  leave  you  in  the  power  of 
this  man,"  said  Mrs.  Gregory.  "  He  will  kill 
you." 

"  Right  you  are,  ma'am ! "  growled  the 
giant.  "  That's  just  what  I  am  going  to  do !  " 

The  lady  turned  pale.  She  was  frightened, 
but  her  concern  for  Walter's  safety  overcame 
her  fear  for  herself. 

"I  shall  stay  here ! "  she  said.  "  It  would 
be  cowardly  to  leave  you." 

"  Take  my  advice,  boy,"  growled  the  tramp, 
"  and  clear  out  of  here.  It  is  no  concern  of 
yours." 

Walter  did  not  answer,  but  keen,  alert, 
vigilant,  he  fixed  his  eye  warily  on  his  for 
midable  opponent. 

"  Well,  youngster,"   said  the  tramp  impa 
tiently,  "  did  you  hear  me?  " 

"  Yes,  I  heard  you." 

"  Leave  this  room,  or  I'll  smash  you !  " 

"  Smash  away !  "  retorted  Walter. 

Though  he  was  barely  five  feet  six  inches  in 
height,  while  the  tramp  was  fully  six  feet,  his 
muscles  had  been  toughened  by  exercise  in 
the  college  gymnasium  and  by  rowing  in  the 
college  crew,  and  he  was  wonderfully  quick 
in  his  motions, 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      in 

Feeling  that  the  time  for  forbearance  was 
over,  and  irritated  beyond  measure  by  Wal 
ter's  audacity,  the  tramp  prepared  to  carry 
out  his  threat.  He  raised  the  chair,  and  with 
a  downward  sweep  aimed  at  Walter's  head. 

Had  the  blow  taken  effect,  this  story  would 
never  have  been  written.  But  Walter's  quick 
eye  foresaw  the  movement,  and  springing  aside 
he  dodged  the  blow,  and  brought  down  the 
poker  on  the  muscular  part  of  the  giant's  arm 
with  what  force  he  could  command.  There 
was  a  howl  of  pain,  and  the  tramp's  arm  hung 
limp  and  lifeless1  at  his  side,  while  with  the 
other  he  clasped  it  in  evident  suffering. 

"  You  murderous  young  villain ! "  he 
shrieked.  "I'll  kill  you  for  that!" 

Walter  felt  that  he  was  in  a  dangerous 
position. 

"Leave  the  room,  please!"  he  said  to  Mrs. 
Gregory.  "  You  will  be  in  my  way." 

She  obeyed,  for  her  champion  had  shown 
himself  worthy  to  command,  and  Walter 
sprang  to  the  other  side  of  the  table,  placing 
it  between  him  and  his  foe. 

By  this1  time  the  tramp  had  got  ready  for 
an  attack.  He  dashed  round  the  table  after 
Walter,  and  finally  succeeded,  in  spite  of  the 
boy's  astivity,  in  grasping  him  by  the  shoul 
der. 


H2      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

"  Ah!  "  be  said,  with  a  deep  sigh  of  content, 
"  Tve  got  you  now.  I'll  pay  you  for  that 
blow !  " 

Walter  felt  that  he  had  never  been  in  such 
a  tight  place  before. 


CHAPTER   XV. 

THE  EXCITEMENT  DEEPENS. 

WALTER  was  fortunate  enough  not  to  lose 
his  head  under  any  circumstances.  He  no 
ticed  that  his  opponent  held  him  by  his  right 
hand,  and  it  was  his  right  arm  which  had 
been  lamed.  Naturally,  therefore,  it  had  lost 
some  of  its  strength.  This  was  his  opportu 
nity.  With  a  sudden  twist  he  wriggled  out  of 
the  giant's  grasp,  and,  understanding  that  it 
was  dangerous  to  be  at  too  close  quarters,  he 
threw  open  the  outer  door  and  dashed  into  the 
yard. 

Whether  this  would,  on  the  whole,  have 
helped  him,  was  uncertain,  as  the  tramp  could 
probably  outrun  him,  but  just  in  the  nick  of 
time  a  team  appeared,  driven  by  a  young  man, 
perhaps  twenty-five,  of  remarkable  size. 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      113 

Fliram  Nutt  was  six  feet  six  inches  in  height, 
the  tallest  man  in  the  county,  and  he  was  as 
athletic  as  he  was  tall.  He  tipped  the  scales 
at  two  hundred  and  ten  pounds,  and  was 
famous  for  his  feats  of  strength.  He  was  a 
farmer's  son,  and  lived  at  Elm  Bank. 

When  he  saw  Walter  dash  out  of  the  house, 
pursued  by  an  ill-looking  tramp,  he  thought 
it  high  time  to  interfere. 

"  What's  up?  "  he  demanded,  still  retaining 
his  seat  in  the  wagon. 

"  None  of  your  business ! "  retorted  the 
tramp,  too  angry  to  be  prudent.  "  The  kid's 
been  impudent,  and  I'm  going  to  pound  him. 
to  a  jelly." 

Meanwhile,  Walter  was  leading  the  tramp 
a  chase  round  the  wagon,  narrowly  escaping 
seizure. 

"Help  me!"  exclaimed  Walter,  panting. 

"  If  you  do,  I'll  lay  you  out !  "  exclaimed  the 
pursuer,  who  had  been  too  much  occupied  to 
notice  the  formidable  size  of  the  young  man 
in  the  wagon. 

Hiram  Nutt  smiled — a  smile  of  conscious 
strength. 

"  Jump  in  the  wagon,  boy !  "  he  said.  "  I'll 
take  care  of  you." 

Walter  obeyed  directions,  and  the  tramp 
tried  to  follow  him. 


1 14      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

But  in  an  instant  Hiram  had  risen  to  his 
full  height,  and,  leaping  to  the  ground,  hurried 
to  the  rear  of  the  vehicle  and  caught  hold  of 
the  tramp.  The  latter  tried  to  resist,  but  he 
was  like  a  child  in  the  grasp  of  a  man.  He 
looked  up  in  amazement,  for  he  was  proud  of 
his  strength. 

"  What  museum  did  you  escape  from,  you 
— monster?  "  he  panted. 

Hiram  laughed. 

"Never  mind!"  he  said.  "It's  well  Fra 
here.  Now,  boy,  who  is  this  man?  " 

"  I  found  him  in  that  house,  ready  to  strike 
down  the  lady  who  lives  there  because  she 
would  not  give  him  what  money  she  had." 

Hiram  Nutt's  brows  contracted. 

"  Why,  you  thieving  scoundrel !  "  he  cried, 
vigorously  shaking  his  captive,  "  you  dared 
to  threaten  Mrs.  Gregory?  Did  he  hurt  the 
lady?  "  he  added  anxiously. 

"No;  I  heard  her  cry  for  help,  and  rushed 
in.  Then  he  turned  upon  me." 

"  He  might  have  killed  you ! " 

"  I  wish  I  had !  "  ejaculated  the  tramp,  with 
a  scowl. 

"  Where  is  Mrs.  Gregory  now?  " 

"  I  told  her  to  go  up-stairs." 

Just  then  the  lady,  who  from  an  upper  win- 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      115 

clow  had  observed  the  discomfiture  and  cap 
ture  of  her  enemy,  came  out. 

"  Oh,  Mr.  Nutt !  "  she  exclaimed,  "  I  am  so 
glad  you  came  along!  I  was  afraid  this  brave 
boy  would  get  hurt." 

"  It  isn't  he  that  will  get  hurt  now,"  said 
Nutt  significantly.  "  How  came  this  fellow 
in  your  house?  " 

"  He  came  in  half-an-hour  ago  and  asked 
for  food." 

"And  you  gave  it  to  him?" 

"Yes;  I  got  ready  a  lunch  for  him,  and 
made  him  some  tea,  though  he  wanted  liquor." 

"  And  this  was  the  way  of  repaying  the 
favor?" 

"  He  had  heard  in  some  way  that  my  hus 
band  brought  home  some  money  last  evening, 
and  he  demanded  it.  I  wish,  Mr.  Nutt,  you 
would  take  charge  of  it  till  my  husband  comes 
home.  I  don't  dare  to  have  it  in  the  house." 

"  It  won't  be  necessary  for  there  comes  your 
husband."  It  was1  true.  Ephriam  Gregory 
turned  the  corner  of  the  street,  and  paused 
in  surprise  at  the  spectacle  before  him. 

"  What's  the  matter,  Lucy?  "  he  asked. 

She  briefly  explained. 

"  I  am  so  glad  you  are  at  home,"  she  sighed. 
(l  But  how  do  you  happen  to  come  so  early?  " 

"  T  think  it  was  a  presentiment  of  evil,    I 


n6      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

thought  of  the  money  I  had  left  with  you,  and 
it  occurred  to  me  that  it  might  expose  you 
to  danger.  So  I  got  leave  of  absence  and  took 
an  early  train  for  Elm  Bank." 

"What  shall  I  do  with  this  fellow,  Mr. 
Gregory?"  asked  Hiram. 

"  I'll  go  into  the  house  and  get  a  rope  to 
tie  him.  Then  we'll  take  him  to  the  lockup." 

"  Let  me  go!  "  said  the  tramp  uneasily.  "  I 
was  only  joking." 

"  You  carried  the  joke  too  far,  my  friend," 
said  Hiram  significantly.  "  I'll  take  you 
round  to  the  lockup — by  way  of  joke — and 
Judge  Jones  will  sentence  you  to  the  peniten 
tiary — just  to  help  the  joke  along." 

"  Let  me  go !  "  whined  the  tramp,  now  quite 
subdued.  "  I  am  a  poor  man,  and  that's  what 
led  me  to  do  wrong." 

"  I  suppose  you  never  indulged  in  such  a 
little  joke  before?  " 

"No;  this  is  the  first  time." 

"  Probably  you  are  a  church  member  when 
you  are  at  home,"  said  Hiram,  in  a  tone  of 
sarcasm.  "  You're  a  good  man  gone  wrong, 
ain't  you?  " 

"  Yes,"  said  the  tramp. 

"  You  look  like  it.  Such  good  men  as  you 
are  better  off  in  jail." 

"  I'll  leave  town  and  never  come  back — I 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      117 

will,  on  my  honor ! "  pleaded  the  tramp 
earnestly. 

"  I  don't  put  any  confidence  in  what  you 
say.  Ah,  here's  the  rope.  Now,  hold  still  if 
you  know  what's  best  for  yourself." 

The  tramp  attempted  resistance,  but  a  little 
vigorous  shaking  up  by  his  captor  soon 
brought  him  to  terms.  In  five  minutes,  with 
his  hands  and  feet  firmly  tied,  he  was1  on  his 
way  to  the  lockup.  Mr.  Gregory  and  Walter 
accompanied  him  in  the  wagon. 

"  Now,  Mr.  Sherwood,"  said  Gregory,  when 
their  errand  was  completed,  "  I  want  to  thank 
you  for  your  brave  defense  of  my  wife." 

"  I  only  did  what  any  one  would  do  under 
the  same  circumstances,"  said  Walter  mod 
estly. 

"  Any  one  of  the  requisite  courage.  You 
put  yourself  in  danger." 

"  I  didn't  think  of  that,  Mr.  Gregory." 

"  No,  I  suppose  not,  but  it  is  proper  that  I 
should  think  of  it.  You  have  placed  me  under 
an  obligation  that  I  shall  not  soon  forget. 
You  must  do  me  the  favor  to  come  home  to 
supper  with  me  and  pass  the  night.  Will  it 
interfere  seriously  with  your  business?" 

"  I  am  a  life-insurance  agent,"  said  Walter, 
"  or,  at  least,  I  am  trying  to  be,  but  have  not 
yet  succeeded  in  writing  a  policy." 


n8      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

"  I  have  been  thinking  of  insuring  my  life 
for  a  small  sum.  If  you  come  home  with  me 
you  may  talk  me  into  doing  it." 

"  Then  I  will  certainly  accept  your  invita 
tion,"  said  Walter,  smiling. 

"  My  wife  made  me  promise  to  keep  you. 
She  wants  to  show  her  gratitude.  Besides, 
you  may  be  wanted  to  appear  against  the  pris 
oner  to-morrow  morning." 

"  I  shall  be  glad  to  help  him  to  his  deserts," 
said  Walter.  "  The  sooner  he  is  locked  up  the 
better  it  will  be  for  the  community." 

Walter  had  no  reason  to  regret  his  accept 
ance  of  the  invitation.  Mrs.  Gregory  exerted 
herself  to  the  utmost  in  providing  an  appetiz 
ing  supper,  far  in  advance  of  anything  he 
would  have  had  set  before  him  at  his  boarding- 
house,  Mrs.  Canfield  being  an  indifferent  cook. 
Generally  her  butter  was  strong  and  her  tea 
weak,  while  the  contrary  should  have  been  the 
case,  and  her  biscuit  heavy  with  saleratus. 
Walter  thoroughly  enjoyed  his  supper,  and 
was  almost  ashamed  of  his  appetite.  But  it 
gave  his  hostess  great  pleasure  to  see  his  ap 
preciation  of  the  meal,  and  she  took  it  as  a 
compliment  to  herself  as  a  cook. 

After  supper  Walter  and  Mr.  Gregory  sat 
down  to  business.  He  explained  the  methods 
of  the  insurance  company  for  which  he  was 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      119 

acting  as  agent,  and  found  Mr.  Gregory  an 
interested  and  intelligent  listener. 

"  You  may  write  rne  a  policy  for  a  thousand 
dollars,"  he  said. 

"  You  will  need  to  pass  a  medical  examina 
tion/'  said  Walter. 

"  Certainly;  will  our  village  physician  do?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  Then  take  your  hat  and  walk  over  with 
me.  It  is  only  half-a-mile  distant." 

The  whole  matter  was  adjusted  that  even 
ing,  and  Walter  was  pleased  to  feel  that  he 
had  made  a  successful  start  in  his  new  busi 
ness. 

The  next  morning  the  tramp  was  brought 
before  Justice  Jones,  who  arranged  to  hold 
court  early  to  oblige  Walter  and  Mr.  Gregory, 
and  the  prisoner  received  a  sentence  of  a 
year's  confinement.  He  gave  the  name  of 
Barney  Fogg,  and  under  that  name  received 
his  sentence.  He  scowled  fiercely  while  Wal 
ter  was  giving  his  evidence,  and  as  he  was 
taken  from  the  court-room  hand-cuffed,  he 
turned  toward  our  hero  and  said:  "  It's  your 
turn  now,  young  bantam,  but  I'll  be  even 
with  you  yet." 

"What  a  terrible  man!"  said  Mr.  Gregory, 
shuddering.  "  I  hope  I  shall  never  see  him 
again." 


I2O      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

WALTES  GOES  INTO  A  NEW  BUSINESS. 

ONE  swallow  doesn't  make  a  summer,  and 
one  policy  doesn't  establish  the  success  of  an 
insurance  agent.  Walter  received  from  Mr. 
Perkins  five  dollars  commission  on  the  policy 
he  had  written  at  Elm  Bank,  and  this  en 
couraged  him  to  renewed  efforts.  But  in  the 
fortnight  following  he  only  succeeded  in  writ 
ing  a  policy  for  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars, 
for  a  man  who  designed  it  to  meet  his  funeral 
expenses.  For  this  Walter  received  one  dol 
lar  and  a  quarter.  He  made  numerous  other 
attempts,  but  he  found,  though  he  understood 
the  subject  thoroughly,  that  his  youth  oper 
ated  against  him.  He  decided  that  he  was 
wasting  his  time,  and  one  morning  he  waited 
on  Mr.  Perkins  and  resigned  his  agency. 

"Have  you  anything  else  in  view?"  asked 
that  gentleman." 

"  No,  sir." 

"  Then  why  don't  you  keep  on  till  you  have 
secured  another  position?" 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      121 

"  Because  it  takes  up  my  time,  and  pre 
vents  my  getting  anything  else." 

"  I  don't  know  but  you  are  right,  Mr.  Sher 
wood.  You  have  made  a  good  beginning,  and 
if  you  were  ten  years  older  I  think  you  would 
make  a  successful  agent." 

"  I  can't  afford  to  wait  ten  years,"  returned 
Walter,  with  a  smile. 

"  If  ever  you  want  to  come  back,  I  will 
start  you  again." 

Walter  thanked  Mr.  Perkins,  and  left  the 
office. 

He  now  began  to  explore  the  columns  of 
the  daily  papers,  in  the  hope  of  finding  some 
opening,  but  met  with  the  usual  rebuffs  and 
refusals  when  he  called  upon  advertisers. 

At  length  he  saw  the  following  advertise 
ment  in  the  Chicago  Tribune: 

"  WTANTED — A  confidential  clerk  at  a  salary 
of  fifteen  dollars  per  week.  As  a  guarantee  of 
fidelity,  a  small  deposit  will  be  required. 
LOCKE  &  GREEN,  No.  257i/2  State  Street." 

"  Fifteen  dollars  a  week !  "  repeated  Walter 
hopefully.  "  That  will  support  me  very  com 
fortably.  If  I  get  it  I  will  change  my  board 
ing-place,  for  I  don't  like  Mrs.  Canfi«ld's 


122      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

table.  I  shall  feel  justified  in  paying  a  little 
more  than  I  do  now." 

The  only  thing  that  troubled  him  was  as 
to  the  deposit.  Though  he  had  econourzed  as 
closely  as  he  knew  how,  he  had  made  quite  an 
inroad  upon  his  small  capital,  and  had  only 
forty-six  dollars  left.  He  had  been  in  Chicago 
four  weeks,  and  had  not  yet  been  able  to  write 
home  that  he  had  found  a  permanent  position. 
He  had  written  about  his  insurance  agency, 
and  had  not  failed  to  chronicle  his  first  suc 
cess. 

This  letter  Doctor  Mack  had  read  to  his 
housekeeper,  Miss  Nancy  Sprague. 

"  Well,  Nancy,"  he  said,  "  Walter  is  at 
work." 

"  You  don't  say  so,  doctor !  What  is  he 
do:ng?  " 

"  He  is  a  life-insurance  agent." 

"  Is  that  a  good  business?  " 

"  Walter  writes  that  one  agent  is  making 
a  hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars  a  week," 
answered  the  doctor,  with  a  humorous  twinkle 
in  his  eye. 

"  I'm  glad  Master  Walter  has  got  such  a 
good  business,"  said  the  housekeeper,  brighten 
ing  up.  "  That's  a  great  sum  for  a  boy  like 
him  to  make." 

"  It  isn't  he  that  has  made  it,  Nancy.    There 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      123 

are  very  few  that  do,  and  those  have  to  be  old 
and  experienced  men." 

"  Well,  he'll  make  a  good  living,  anyhow." 

"  Perhaps  so,"  answered  the  doctor,  dubi 
ously,  for  he  understood  better  than  Nancy 
how  precarious  were  the  chances  of  an  inex 
perienced  agent.  He  was  not  at  all  surprised 
when  Walter  wrote  later  that  though  he  had 
met  with  some  success,  he  thought  it  better  to 
look  for  a  situation  with  a  regular  salary  at 
tached. 

"  He's  gaining  a  little  knowledge  of  the 
world,"  thought  the  guardian.  "  I  don't  think 
he'll  be  able  to  indulge  in  luxurious  living 
for  the  present.  It  won't  be  long,  probably, 
before  he  runs  out  of  money." 

It  was  with  a  hopeful  spirit  that  Walter 
started  for  the  office  of  Locke  &  Green.  He 
was  pretty  well  acquainted  with  Chicago  by 
this  time,  and  had  no  difficulty  in  locating 
any  office  in  the  business  part  of  the  city. 

No  indication  was  given  in  the  advertise 
ment  of  the  business  carried  on  by  Locke  & 
Green.  As  to  that,  however,  Walter  felt  in 
different.  His  chief  concern  was  the  weekly 
salary  of  fifteen  dollars,  which  he  needed  very 
much. 

Arrived  at  the  number  indicated,  Walter 
ran  up-stairs,  and  with  some  difficulty  found 


124      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

the  office  in  a  small  room  on  the  fourth  floor. 
A  card  on  the  door  bore  the  names : 


LOCKE  &  GREEN 

Again  there  was  no  clue  to  the  business 
carried  on  by  the  firm. 

Walter  was  not  sure  whether  he  ought  to 
knock,  but  finally  decided  to  open  the  door 
and  enter.  He  found  himself  in  a  room 
scarcely  larger  than  a  small  bedroom,  with  a 
email  desk  in  one  corner.  At  this  sat  a  man 
with  long  hair,  industriously  writing  in  a 
large  blank  book.  He  glanced  at  Walter  as 
the  door  opened. 

"  Wait  a  moment,  young  man!  "  he  said,  in 
a  deep  bass  voice.  "  I  will  be  at  leisure  in  two 
minutes." 

He  wrinkled  up  his  face,  turned  back 
several  pages,  appeared  thoughtfully  consider 
ing  some  problem,  and  then  wrote  again 
rapidly. 

Finally  he  turned — he  was  seated  in  a  re- 
'  volving  chair — and  placing  his  two  hands  to 
gether,  palms  inward,  said  abruptly:  "Well, 
young  man,  what  can  I  do  for  you?  " 

"  I  believe  you  advertised  in  the  Tribune 
this  morning  for  a  confidential  clerk?" 

"  Yes." 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      125 

"  I  should  like  to  apply  for  the  position,  if 
it  is  still  vacant." 

"  We  have  not  yet  filled  the  place,"  said 
Mr.  Locke.  "  We  have  had  several  applica 
tions,  but  the  post  is  a  very  responsible  one, 
and  we  are,  of  course,  very  particular." 

"  I  am  afraid  my  chance  is  very  small, 
then,"  thought  Walter. 

"  Still,  I  like  your  appearance,  and  it  is 
possible  that  you  may  suit.  Have  you  busi 
ness  experience?  " 

"  Not  much,  sir.  Indeed,  till  a  short  time 
since  I  was  a  college  student." 

"Yale  or  Harvard?" 

"  No,  sir;  Euclid  College." 

"  Ahem ;  small,  but  very  respectable.  Your 
name?  " 

"  Walter  Sherwood." 

"  How  long  were  you  in  college?  " 

"  Two  years." 

"  Left  of  your  own  accord?  " 

"  Oh,  yes,  sir." 

"  Just  so.  I  thought  perhaps  you  might 
have  been  suspended  or  expelled." 

"  I  can  refer  you  on  that  point  to  the  presi 
dent  or  any  of  the  professors." 

"  Oh,  I  will  take  your  word  for  it." 

"  I  left  college  on  account  of  losing  my  prop 
erty." 


126      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

"Ah,  indeed!"  said  Mr.  Locke  doubtfully. 
"  Perhaps  you  noticed  that  we  require  a  small 
deposit  as  a  guarantee  of  fidelity." 

"  Yes,  sir.    I  have  a  little  money." 

Mr.  Locke  looked  relieved. 

"  Of  course,"  continued  he  loftily,  "  doing 
the  business  we  do,  money  is  of  comparatively 
little  importance  to  us,  except  as  a  guarantee 
of  fidelity.  How  much  did  you  say  you  had?  " 

"  I  didn't  say,  sir.  I  could  deposit  twenty- 
five  dollars  with  you." 

Mr.  Locke  shrugged  his1  shoulders. 

"  That  is  very  little,"  he  said. 

"  True,  sir,  but  it  is  a  good  deal  to  me.  It 
will  be  enough  to  insure  my  fidelity. 

"  We  had  a  young  man  here  this  morning," 
said  Mr.  Locke  musingly,  "  who  was  willing 
to  deposit  a  hundred  dollars  with  us." 

"Indeed,  sir!  I  wonder  you  did  not  take 
him." 

"  We  should,  so  far  as  the  money  went,  but 
I  could  see  by  his  appearance  that  there  was 
no  business  in  him.  Our  clerk  must  be  quick, 
sharp,  alert.  The  young  man  was  very  much 
disappointed." 

"  I  couldn't  deposit  any  such  sum  as  that, 
Mr.  Locke." 

"  It  will  not  be  necessary.  Still,  twenty* 
flve  dollars  is  very  small,  You  couldn't,  say 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      127 

thirty,  could  you?  That  is  merely  equal  to 
two  weeks'  salary." 

"  Yes,  sir.  I  might  be  willing  to  deposit 
thirty  dollars.  May  I  ask  what  business  you 
are  interested  in?  " 

"  We  have  control  for  the  Western  States 
of  a  valuable  patent — a  folding  table — and 
we  have  several  hundred  agents  out,  wrho  re 
port  in  general  by  letter.'' 

"  That  accounts  for  the  small  office," 
thought  Walter. 

"  Come  here  a  moment,  and  I  will  give  you 
an  idea  how  we  carry  on  business.  Here,  for 
instance,  is  a  page  devoted  to  B.  Schenck. 
He  is  operating  for  us  in  Minnesota.  You  will 
observe  that  his  remittances  for  the  last  four 
weeks  aggregate  three  hundred  and  sixty- 
seven  dollars.  He  has  been  doing  very  well, 
but  we  have  others  Avho  do  better.  On  the 
next  page  is  our  account  with  G.  Parker. 
His  month's  work  amounts  to  two  hundred 
and  eighty-nine  dollars." 

"  What  would  my  duties  be,  sir?  " 

"  To  keep  the  office  when  I  am  out,  receive 
letters,  and  answer  them,  and  see  agents." 

"  I  think  I  could  do  that,  sir," 

"  Hours  from  nine  to  five.  I  think  you  will 
suit  me.  If  at  the  end  of  the  week  I  don't 


128      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

find  you  satisfactory,  I  will  pay  you  your 
wages  and  return  your  money." 

"  Very  well,  sir.     I  accept  the  position." 

"  You  may  as  well  hand  me  the  money,  and 
go  to  work  to-day." 

Walter  drew  out  thirty  dollars,  the  greater 
part  of  his  little  store,  and  handed  it  to  Mr. 
Locke. 

Mr.  Locke  tucked  it  carelessly  into  his*  vest 
pocket,  and  taking  his  hat  said :  "  Sit  down 
here,  and  if  any  agents  come  in,  tell  them  I 
will  be  back  at  one  o'clock.  That  is  all  you 
will  need  to  do  to-day." 


CHAPTER   XVII. 

WALTER'S  VISITORS. 

WALTER  sat  down  at  the  desk  complacently. 
He  had  parted  with  thirty  dollars,  but  it  was 
on  deposit  with  his  new  employer,  and  would 
be  returned  to  him  whenever  his  engagement 
terminated.  He  only  hoped  that  his  services' 
would  prove  satisfactory.  He  meant  to  do 
his  best.  On  fifteen  dollars  a  week  he  could 
live  very  comfortably,  and  even  save  money. 
He  felt  that  it  would  be  prudent  to  do  this, 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.        129 

as  he  did  not  wish  to  call  upon  his  guardian 
for  any  remittances  during  the  year. 

"  I  shan't  have  to  work  very  hard,"  thought 
Walter. 

In  default  of  any  other  employment  he 
looked  over  the  large  ledger  committed  to  his 
charge.  It  appeared  to  contain  certain  ac 
counts  with  different  agents,  all  of  whom 
seemed  to  be  meeting  with  very  good  success, 
judging  from  the  amount  of  remittances 
credited  to  them. 

In  about  half-an-hour  there  was  a  knock  at 
the  door. 

"Come  in!"  called  out  Walter. 

A  man  of  about  thirty-five  entered  briskly. 
He  was  rather  shabbily  dressed,  and  his  red 
face  indicated  possible  indulgence  in  intoxi 
cating  liquor. 

"  Is  Mr.  Locke  in?  "  he  asked. 

"  No,  sir." 

"  I   wanted  to  see  him." 

"  I  am  his  confldciit'al  clerk,"  said  Walter 
proudly.  "  Are  you  an  agent?  " 

"  Yes,  I  am  an  agent.  I  suppose  I  ought  to 
see  him." 

"  He  will  be  back  at  one  o'clock." 

"  I  can't  stop,  as  I  have  been  away  for  some 
weeks  and  want  to  go  out  and  see  my  family 
at  Barrington." 


130      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

"  If  you  wish  to  leave  any  message  I  will 
give  it  to  Mr.  Locke  as  soon  as  he  returns." 

u  Perhaps  that  will  do.  My  name  is  Jerome 
Grigson.  Tell  Mr.  Locke  I  have  met  with 
excellent  success  in  Ohio.  In  the  last  four 
weeks  I  have  sold  goods  to  the  amount  of  four 
hundred  and  seventeen  dollars." 

"  I  should  think  it  was  doing  remarkably 
well,"  observed  Walter. 

"  It  is;  but  any  one  could  sell  for  Locke  & 
Green.  They've  just  hit  the  mark.  They 
will  be  rich  men  inside  of  two  years." 

"  I  have  not  met  Mr.  Green  yet." 

"  No ;  I  believe  he  leaves  the  direction  of 
the  business  chiefly  in  Mr.  Locke's  hands. 
How  long  have  you  been  in  the  office?  " 

"  Not  long,"  answered  Walter,  who  did  not 
care  to  admit  that  his  term  of  service  covered 
less  than  an  hour. 

"  You've  a  good  place  with  a  rising  firm. 
Mind  you  keep  it!  " 

"  I  will  try  to,"  said  Walter  earnestly. 

"  They're  square  men,  Locke  &  Green.  I 
never  worked  for  squarer  men." 

This  was  pleasant  to  hear.  Walter  felt  that 
he  had  made  no  mistake  in  parting  with  his 
thirty  dollars. 

"  Well,  I  must  be  going.  Have  you  taken 
down  my  name?  " 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      131 

"Yes,  sir;  Jerome  Grigson." 

"  Right.  Say,  I  will  look  in  some  time  to 
morrow  and  bring  in  a  check  for  four  hun 
dred  and  seventeen  dollars." 

"  Very  well,  sir.7' 

Mr.  Grigson  left  the  office.  Twenty  min 
utes  later  a  boy  of  about  his  own  age  opened 
the  door.  He  glanced  at  Walter  diffidently. 

"  You  advertised  for  a  confidential  clerk," 
he  said.  "  Is — is  the  place  filled?  " 

"  Yes,"  answered  Walter,  in  a  tone  of  satis 
faction. 

"  You  don't  want  anybody  else,  do  you? " 
asked  the  youth,  looking  disappointed. 

"  Not  at  present,  but  we  might  be  able  to 
employ  you  as  an  agent." 

"  Is  it  hard  work?  " 

"  Well,  of  course  you  will  have  to  exert 
yourself,"  said  Walter  condescendingly,  toy 
ing  with  a  pen  as  he  spoke,  "  but  successful 
men  can  earn  good  wages  with  us." 

He  was  talking  as  if  he  was  one  of  the 
partners,  but  it  is  a  way  young  clerks  have. 

"  Are  you  one  of  the  firm?  "  asked  the  young 
man  doubtfully. 

"  No,"  answered  Walter,  "  not  exactly. 
Mr.  Locke  will  be  in  about  one  o'clock,  and  if 
you  will  come  round  a  little  after  that  you  can 
talk  with  him  about  an  agency,  I  will  put  in 


132      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

a  good  word  for  you,"  he  added,  in  a  patro 
nizing  tone. 

"  Thank  you,  sir.     I'd  like  to  get  a  place." 

The  youth  departed  and  Walter  was  left 
alone.  But  not  for  long.  A  middle-aged  man 
entered  and  looked  inquiringly  at  Walter. 

"Are  you  Mr.  Green?''  he  asked. 

"  No,  sir." 

"  I  have  seen  Mr.  Locke,  but  I  thought  you 
might  be  Mr.  Green." 

Walter  felt  flattered  to  be  taken  for  one  of 
the  firm. 

"  I  am  the  confidential  clerk,"  he  said. 
"  Can  I  do  anything  for  you?" 

"  I  wanted  to  see  Mr.  Locke  and  pay  him 
some  money." 

"  I  will  take  it  and  receipt  for  it,"  said 
Walter  briskly. 

"  Well,  I  suppose  that  will  do,  as  you  are 
the  clerk." 

"  What  name?  "  asked  Walter,  opening  the 
book. 

"  Jonas  Damon.  Here  is  a  check  on  the 
Corndish  National  Bank  of  Illinois  for  two 
hundred  and  twenty-seven  dollars.  I  have 
made  it  payable  to  Locke  &  Green.'' 

"  All  right,"  said  Walter,  in  a  business-like 
tone. 

"  If  you  wish  to  see  Mr,  Locke  he  will  lie  in 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      133 

at  one  o'clock,"  he  added,  as  he  put  the  check 
in  his  vest  pocket. 

"  No,  I  am  obliged  to  go  out  of  town  in  half- 
an-hour.  It  isn't  necessary  to  see  him.  He 
would  rather  see  the  check." 

Mr.  Damon  laughed,  and  so  did  Walter.  It 
made  him  feel  quite  like  a  business  man  to  be 
installed  in  an  office,  receiving  and  crediting 
checks. 

"  Have  you  been  long  in  our  employment?  " 
he  asked. 

"  About  six  months." 

"  I  hope  you  have  found  it  satisfactory?  " 

"  Yes,  I  have  made  an  excellent  living. 
I  low  much  salary  do  you  get?  " 

"  Fifteen  dollars  a  week,"  answered  Wal 
ter,  rather  complacently. 

"  You  look  like  a  smart  young  fellow. 
You'd  easily  make  double  the  money  as  an 
agent." 

"  Thank  you  for  the  suggestion.  I  may 
undertake  that  some  time.  I  have  been  a 
life-insurance  agent." 

"Did  it  pay?" 

"  Not  as  well  as  I  hoped.  I  think  I  shall 
like  my  present  place  better." 

"  I  must  be  going.  Tell  Mr.  Locke  I  will 
be  in  to-morrow." 

"All  right." 


134      VValter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

'•'It  is  evident,"  thought  Walter,  "that  I 
am  in  the  employ  of  a  substantial  and  pros 
perous  firm.  The  duties  are  certainly  very 
light  and  pleasant.  I  am  in  luck  to  get  a 
clerkship  here.  It  is  rather  surprising  Mr. 
Locke  didn't  ask  for  references." 

Then  it  occurred  to  him  that  the  deposit 
was  taken  as  a  substitute  for  references. 
Then  again  Walter  flattered  himself  that  his 
personal  appearance  might  have  produced  a 
favorable  impression  upon  his  employer  and 
had  some  influence  in  leading  to  an  engage 
ment. 

His  next  caller  was  a  young  man,  dark  and 
sallow,  with  a  slight  mustache. 

"  Is  this  the  office  of  Locke  &  Green?"  he 
asked. 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Will  you  describe  Mr.  Locke  to  me? " 
asked  the  young  man,  who  appeared  to  be 
laboring  under  some  excitement. 

Walter  was  rather  surprised  at  such  a  re 
quest,  but  complied  with  it. 

"  Yes,  he's  the  man,"  said  his  visitor,  slap 
ping  his  hands  together  impetuously.  "  He's 
the  man  that  cheated  me  out  of  fifty  dollars! " 

"  You  must  be  mistaken,"  said  Walter. 
"  How  did  he  cheat  you  out  of  it?  " 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      135 

"  One  moment — are  you  his  confidential 
clerk?" 

"  Yes." 

"  I  thought  so,"  returned  the  young  man, 
laughing  wildly.  "  So  was  I." 

"  You  were  his  clerk?  " 

"  Yes,  for  two  weeks.  I  paid  him  fifty  dol 
lars  good  money  as  security." 

"  You  did? "  repeated  Walter,  with  some 
anxiety. 

"  Yes;  at  the  end  of  two  weeks  he  told  me 
I  would  not  suit." 

"  But  he  paid  you  your  wages  and  returned 
you  your  money?  " 

"  No,  he  didn't!  "  exploded  the  young  man. 
"  He  told  me  to  come  round  on  Monday  morn 
ing  and  he  would  pay  me." 

"Well?" 

"I  called  Monday,  and  he  was  gone!  He 
had  moved,  the  scoundrel!  I  should  like  to 
choke  him ! " 

"Was  it  this  office?" 

"  No.  Let  me  see  that  book !  Ah,  it  is  the 
same  that  I  kept.  Have  you,  too,  given  him 
money?  " 

"  I  deposited  thirty  dollars." 

"Ah,  it  is  the  same  old  game!  You  will 
never  see  a  cent  of  it  agiin." 

"  But,"  said  Walter,  "  I  don't  understand. 


136      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

He  is  doing  a  good  business.  I  have  had  calls 
from  two  of  his  agents.  One  of  them  handed 
me  this  check,"  and  he  drew  out  the  check 
Mr.  Damon  had  given  him. 

The  young  man  took  it  and  laughed  bitterly. 

"  I  don't  believe  there  is  any  such  bank,"  he 
said.  "  I  never  heard  of  it." 

"  Then  why  should  the  agent  hand  me  the 
check?" 

"  To  pull  wool  over  your  eyes.  These 
agents  are  in  league  with  this  man  Locke. 
That  wasn't  his  name  when  he  engaged  me." 

"What  was  it  then?" 

"He  called  himself  Libby.  Libby  &  Rich 
mond,  that  was  the  name  of  the  firm." 

"  What  made  you  think  he  might  have 
changed  his  name?  " 

"  Because  the  advertisement  reads  the 
same." 

"  And  you  really  think  it  is  the  same  man?  " 

"Yes,  I  feel  sure  of  it." 

"  He  will  be  back  at  one  o'clock.  If  you 
will  wait  till  then  you  can  see  for  yourself."  - 

"I'll  wait!"  said  the  young  man,  grinding 
his  teeth.  "  I  will  confront  the  swindler 
face  to  face.  I  will  demand  my  money." 

The  door  opened  and  some  one  put  in  his 
head,  but  before  Walter  or  his  visitor  could 
see  who  it  was  it  closed  again. 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      137 

Fifteen  minutes1  later  a  telegraph  boy  en 
tered  the  office. 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 

WALTER  IS  TURNED  ADRIFT. 

"  MR.  SHERWOOD?  "  said  the  telegraph  mes 
senger  inquiringly. 

"  That  is  my  name,"  answered  Walter. 

"  A  message  for  you." 

Walter  opened  the  note,  and  read  as  fol 
lows  : 

"  I  am  called  out  of  the  city.  You  may 
close  up  at  four,  and  leave  the  key  with  the 
janitor.  Report  for  duty  to-morrow  morning. 

LOCKE." 

"What  is  it?"  asked  the  young  man 
eagerly. 

Walter  showed  him  the  note. 

"  It  looks  to  me  like  some  trick,"  said  the 
stranger. 

"  But  I  don't  see  any  object  in  it." 

"  He  has  your  thirty  dollars." 

"  And  I  have  a  check  for  over  two  hundred." 

"  I  would  rather  have  the  thirty  dollars. 
What  shall  you  do?  " 

"  There  is  nothing  to  do  but  fullow  direc 
tions." 

The  young  man  shrugged  his  shouJ<?<?rs. 


138      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

"  Then  you  will  come  round  to-morrow 
morning?  "  he  said. 

"  Certainly." 

"  I'll  look  in  upon  you.  I  want  to  see  this 
Mr.  Locke,  though  I  doubt  if  that  is  his  name." 

Walter  was  disposed  to  think  the  young 
man  too  suspicious.  He  was  of  a  sanguine 
temperament,  and  he  tried  to  persuade  himself 
that  there  was  really  no  good  reason  to 
suspect  Mr.  Locke  of  unfair  dealing.  He  laid 
considerable  stress  upon  the  favorable  reports 
of  the  agents  who  had  called  upon  him  dur 
ing  the  day. 

At  length  four  o'clock  came,  and  he  closed 
up  the  office,  leaving  the  key  with  the  janitor. 
He  went  home,  not  quite  knowing  whether 
he  was  to  be  congratulated  or  not.  He  de 
cided  not  to  say  anything  just  yet  about  his 
engagement,  lest  it  might  turn  out  to  be  decep 
tive.  Had  he  been  quite  sure  that  it  was  sub 
stantial  and  to  be  relied  upon,  he  would  have 
written  to  his  guardian  to  announce  the  good 
news,  but  he  thought  it  best  to  wait. 

The  next  morning  he  went  to  the  office, 
arriving  at  the  hour  agreed  upon. 

"  Please  give  me  the  key  to  Locke  &  Green's 
office,"  he  said  to  the  janitor. 

"  Mr.  Locke's  given  up  the  room,"  was  the 
startling  reply. 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      139 

Walter  was  dismayed. 

"Given  up  the  room!  Have  you  seen 
him?"  he  inquired. 

"  Yes." 

"When?" 

"  He  called  yesterday  afternoon,  an  hour 
after  you  went  away,  and  got  the  key  from  me. 
In  about  ten  minutes  he  came  down  again, 
carrying  a  ledger  in  his  hand. 

"  *  I  have  taken  another  office/  he  said. 
'  This  is  not  large  enough  for  me/ 

"  '  Have  you  told  your  clerk?  '  I  asked  him. 

" '  Yes,  I  have  sent  a  message  to  him/  he 
replied  carelessly." 

Walter  sank  against  the  door.  He  felt  limp 
and  helpless.  Mr.  Locke  had  gone  off,  and 
carried  his  thirty  dollars  with  him.  There 
was  hardly  room  to  doubt  that  it  was  a  case 
of  deliberate  swindling. 

True,  he  had  the  check  in  his  possession — a 
check  for  two  hundred  and  twenty-seven  dol 
lars — but,  even  if  it  were  genuine,  it  was  made 
out  in  favor  of  Locke  &  Green,  and  would 
be  of  no  service  to  him,  though  in  that  case 
it  would  insure  Mr.  Locke's  calling  upon  him. 
Should  such  be  the  case,  he  determined  that 
lie  would  not  give  up  the  check  till  his  thirty 
dollars  were  returned. 

Walter  walked  slowly  out  of  the  building. 


140      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

When  he  reached  Dearborn  Street  he  went 
into  the  office  of  a  private  banker,  and,  show- 
Ing  the  check,  asked :  "  Is  there  any  such  bank 
as  this?  " 

"  I  never  heard  of  any,"  said  the  banker. 

Walter  turned  pale. 

"  Then  you  think  it  :s  bogus?  " 

"  Very  likely.  Under  what  circumstances 
did  you  receive  it?  " 

Walter  explained. 

"  I  am  sorry  to  say  that  you  are  probably 
the  victim  of  a  confidence  man,  or  firm.  I 
think  I  saw  an  expose  of  some  similar 
swindlers  in  the  Inter-Ocean  a  few  weeks 
since.  Did  you  give  the  fellow  any  money?  " 

"  Yes,  sir;  thirty  dollars." 

"  You  will  have  to  whistle  for  it,  in  all 
probability." 

Walter's  heart  felt  as  heavy  as  lead.  He 
had  less  than  twenty  dollars  now,  and  his 
small  balance  would  last  him  less  than  three 
weeks1.  What  should  he  do  then?  Should  he 
write  to  his  guardian  for  more  money?  He 
hated  to  do  this,  and,  above  all,  he  hated  to 
confess  that  he  had  been  victimized. 

In  the  next  three  days  he  answered  several 
advertisements,  and  made  personal  applica 
tions'  for  employment.  But  no  one  seemed  to 
want  him.  In  one  case  he  was  offered  three 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      141 

dollars  a  week  as  an  office  boy,  but  be  had  not 
got  quite  so  low  down  as  to  accept  this  place 
and  salary.  It  struck  Walter  as  very  singu 
lar  that  one  who  had  spent  two  years  at  col 
lege,  and  possessed  a  fair  knowledge  of  Latin, 
Greek,  and  mathematics,  should  be  in  so  little 
request.  He  envied  the  small  office  boys  whom 
he  saw  on  the  street,  and  even  the  busy  news 
boys,  who  appeared  to  be  making  an  income. 
They  had  work  to  do,  and  he  had  none.  He 
decided  that  he  must  reduce  his  expenses,  and 
accordingly  hired  a  poor  hall-bedroom  for  a 
dollar  and  a  quarter  a  week,  and  took  his 
meals  at  restaurants. 

One  day  he  went  into  Kinsley's  restaurant, 
on  Adams  Street,  feeling  the  need  of  a  good 
meal,  and  sat  down  at  a  table.  He  gave  his 
order,  and  ate  his  dinner  with  appetite.  Pie 
was  about  to  rise  from  the  table  when,  casting 
his  eye  about  the  room,  he  started  in  surprise, 
as  at  a  neighboring  table  he  saw  the  familiar 
face  of  Mr.  Jonas  Damon,  whose  check  he 
held  in  his  pocket. 

Instantly  his  resolve  was1  taken.  He  would 
speak  to  Mr.  Damon,  and  try  to  ascertain 
something  about  the  check. 

He  walked  over  to  the  table,  and,  touching 
Damon  on  the  shoulder,  said:  "Mr.  Damon, 
I  believe?" 


142      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

The  man  looked  up  quickly,  and  a  little 
change  in  his  countenance  showed  that  he 
recognized  Walter;  but  he  assumed  a  stolid 
look,  and  said:  "Were  you  speaking  to  me, 
young  man?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  What  did  you  call  me?  " 

"Mr.  Damon." 

"  You're  off  the  track.  That  isn't  my 
name." 

"Perhaps  not,"  said  Walter  resolutely; 
"  but  when  you  called  at  Locke  &  Green's 
office  and  handed  me  a  check  you  said  your 
name  was  Jonas  Damon." 

"  Ho,  ho !  "  laughed  Damon.  "  So  I  gave 
you  a  check,  did  I  ?  " 

"  Yes,  for  two  hundred  and  twenty-seven 
dollars." 

"  That's  news  to  me.  I'm  not  in  a  position 
to  give  such  checks  as  that." 

"  I've  got  the  check  with  me  now." 

"Why  didn't  you  cash  it?" 

"  It  was  not  made  payable  to  me." 

"  Then  why  didn't  you  give  it  to  the  party 
it  was  made  out  to?  " 

"  Because  he  disappeared." 

"  That's  a  strange  story.  Do  you  know 
what  I  think?" 

"No;  but  I  should  1'ke  to,'' 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      143 

"  I  think  you  are  a  confidence  man,  and  are 
trying  to  take  in  a  poor  countryman.  But 
I've  read  about  you  fellows  in  the  papers,  and 
I  am  on  my  guard.  You'd  better  go  away,  or 
I  may  call  a  policeman." 

This  certainly  was  turning  the  tables  on 
Walter  with  a  vengeance.  For  a  fellow  like 
Damon  to  accuse  him  of  being  a  confidence 
man  was  something  like  the  wolf's  charge 
against  the  lamb  in  .loop's  fable. 

Damon  saw  that  Walter  looked  perplexed, 
and  followed  up  the  attack. 

"  If  anybody  has  given  you  a  check,"  he 
said,  "  I  don't  see  what  you've  got  to  complain 
about.  You'd  better  make  use  of  it  if  you 
can." 

"  Do  you  deny  that  your  name  is  Damon?  " 

"  Of  course  I  do.  My  name  is  Kellogg — 
Nelson  Kellogg,  of  Springfield,  Illinois'.  I 
am  in  the  city  to  buy  goods." 

"  And  you  don't  know  Mr.  Locke,  of  Locke 
&  Green?" 

"  Never  heard  of  the  gentleman.  If  you've 
got  a  check  of  his,  you'd  better  advertise  for 
him.  I  wish  my  name  was  Locke.  I  shouldn't 
mind  receiving  it  myself." 

Here  the  waiter  caino  up  with  Mr.  Damon's 
order,  and  that  gentleman  addressed  himself 
to  disposing  of  it. 


144      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

Walter  left  the  restaurant  slowly,  and 
walked  in  a  dejected  manner  in  the  direction 
of  the  Palmer  House.  He  began  to  think 
that  he  was  a  failure.  When  he  was  a  student 
of  Euclid  College  he  was,  in  his  own  estima 
tion,  a  person  of  importance.  Now  he  felt 
his  insignificance.  If  the  world  owed  him  a 
living,  it  seemed  doubtful  if  it  was  inclined 
to  pay  the  debt. 


CHAPTER    XIX. 

WALTER  MEETS  PROFESSOR  ROBINSON. 

Two  weeks  passed.  Walter  applied  for  all 
sorts  of  situations,  but  obtained  no  engage 
ment.  Meanwhile  his  money  steadily  dimin 
ished,  till  he  awoke  one  morning  to  find  only 
seventy-five  cents  in  his  purse.  Things  were 
getting  decidedly  serious. 

"  I  wonder  if  there  is  any  poorhonse  in 
Chicago,"  thought  Walter,  not  wholly  in  jest. 
"  It  is  not  the  sort  of  home  I  should  prefer, 
but  it  is  better  than  genteel  starvation." 

He  went  out,  breakfasted,  and  at  the  restau 
rant  picked  up  a  copy  of  the  Chicago  Times. 
This  was  a  piece  of  luck,  for  it  saved  him  from 
the  small  expenditure  necessary  to  secure  it. 
He  turned  to  the  department  of  Help  Wanted, 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      145 

and  looking  down  the  column  came  to  this 
notice : 

"  WANTED — By  a  traveling  lecturer,  a 
young  man  who  can  make  himself  generally 
useful;  one  who  plays  the  violin  preferred. 
Apply  to  PROFESSOR  ROBINSON,  Hotel  Bre- 
voort." 

Walter  knew  this  hotel.  It  was  located  on 
Madison  Street,  and  was  on  the  European 
plan. 

"  That  will  suit  me,"  he  said  to  himself. 
"  I  must  lose  no  time  in  making  applica 
tion.  I  can  play  the  violin  fairly  well.  If  it 
will  help  me  to  a  position,  I  will  bless  the 
violin." 

In  ten  minutes  he  was  at  the  hotel,  inquir 
ing  for  Professor  Robinson. 

"  He  is1  in  his  room,"  said  the  clerk.  "  You 
can  go  up  at  once." 

Guided  by  a  bell-boy,  Walter  reached  the 
door  of  No.  65  and  knocked. 

"Come  in!"  said  a  deep  bass  voice. 

Opening  the  door  he  found  himself  in  the 
presence  of  a  stout  man,  inclined  to  be  tall, 
with  a  long,  full  beard,  who  glanced  at  him 
inquiringly. 

"  Professor  Robinson,  I  believe?  "  said  Wal 
ter. 


146      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

"  I  am  the  man,"  answered  the  professor. 

"  I  have  come  to  apply  for  a  position.  J 
have  read  your  advertisement  in  the  Times." 

"  Just  so !     Let  me  look  at  you." 

Walter  blushed  a  little  while  the  professor 
transfixed  him  with  his  glittering  eye.  He 
anxiously  hoped  that  he  would  bear  inspec 
tion. 

"  Humph  !  I  think  you'll  do.  How  old  are 
you?" 

"  Eighteen." 

In  fact,  Walter's  birthday  had  been  passed 
in  Chicago. 

"  You  are  rather  young.  Can  you  play  on 
tho  violin?" 

"Yes,  sir." 

"  Let  me  hear  you." 

The  professor  pointed  to  a  violin  on  the  bed. 

"  I  am  glad  he  doesn't  expect  me  to  furnish 
the  violin,"  Walter  said  to  himself. 

He  took  the  instrument  from  its  case,  and 
trying  the  strings  began  to  play  a  series  of 
familiar  airs.  The  violin  was  not  a  Stradi- 
varius,  but  it  was  of  good  quality,  and  re 
sponded  satisfactorily  to  the  efforts  of  the 
young  musician.  Professor  Robinson  listened 
attentively,  and  nodded  his  approval. 

"  You  play  better  than  the  last  young 
man  I  had." 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      147 

Walter  was  glad  to  hear  it. 

"  I  may  as  well  tell  you  the  nature  of  your 
duties,  in  case  I  engage  you.  I  call  myself  a 
traveling  lecturer,  but  this  may  convey  an 
erroneous  idea.  I  am  the  discoverer  of  Pro 
fessor  Robinson's  Liquid  Balm,  which  is  war 
ranted  to  cure  more  diseases  than  any  other 
patent  preparation  in  existence.  1  won't  go 
into  particulars,  for  these  can  be  read  in  HIV 
circular.  Now,  it  is  my  custom  to  go  from 
one  town  to  another,  engage  a  hall  if  the 
weather  requires,  otherwise  gather  a  crowd 
around  me  in  a  public  place,  and  lecture  about 
the  merits  of  my  remarkable  preparation. 
You,  besides  assisting  me  in  a  general  way, 
are  expected  to  draw  and  entertain  the  crowd 
by  your  performance  on  the  violin.  Can  you 
sing?  " 

Walter  shook  his  head. 

"  I  am  afraid,"  he  said,  "  that  if  I  should 
undertake  to  sing  it  would  drive  away  the 
crowd." 

"Very  well!  It  isn't  necessary,  though  it 
would  have  helped.  Now,  what  are  your  ideas 
as  to  compensation?  " 

As  the  professor  spoke,  lie  leaned  bark  in 
his  chair  and  awaited  a  reply. 

"  I  hardly  know  what  it  would  be  right  to 


148      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

ask,"  returned  Walter  hesitatingly.  "  How 
much  did  you  pay  your  last  assistant?  " 

"  I  paid  him  fifteen  dollars  a  month  and  his 
traveling  expenses." 

This  was  a  good  deal  more  than  Walter  had 
made  since  he  had  undertaken  to  earn  his 
own  living,  yet  there  seemed  small  chance  of 
laying  up  anything  out  of  it. 

"  May  I  ask,  sir,"  he  inquired,  "  do  you 
meet  with  pretty  good  success  in  disposing 
of  your  balm?  " 

"  Yes;  the  public  knows  a  good  thing  when 
it  is  brought  to  its  attention." 

"  Would  you  be  willing  to  pay  my  expenses 
and  ten  per  cent,  commission  on  sales?  " 

"  Why  do  you  prefer  this  to  a  stated 
salary?  " 

"  Because  it  would  be  an  incentive  to  do  my 
best.  Then  if  I  helped  you  to  a  successful 
sale  I  should  be  paid  in  proportion." 

"  I  have  an  idea.  You  look  blooming  and 
healthy.  Are  you  willing  I  should  advertise 
you  as  one  who  has  been  snatched  from  death 
by  my  celebrated  balm?  " 

"  I  don't  think  I  would  like  it,  sir.  It 
would  be  imposing  upon  the  public." 

"  I  merely  suggested  it,  but  I  won't  insist 
upon  it.  I  suppose  you  are  thoroughly  honest 
and  reliable?  " 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      149 

Walter  smiled. 

"  I  don't  know  that  my  assurance  will  sat 
isfy  you,  but  I  can  truly  say  that  I  am." 

"  You  look  it,  and  I  trust  a  good  deal  to 
appearances.  On  the  whole,  I  will  accept 
your  assurance." 

"  Thank  you,  sir." 

"  Can  you  join  me  at  once?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Then  I  will  expect  you  to  bring  your  bag 
gage  here  during  the  day — the  sooner  the  bet 
ter.  You  will  then  receive  your  instructions." 

Walter  was  very  glad  to  hear  this,  for  his 
purse  was  so  nearly  exhausted  that  it  was 
comforting  to  think  his  lodging  and  meals 
would  hereafter  be  paid  by  some  one  else. 
When  he  came  to  reflect  upon  the  nature  of 
his  duties — general  assistant  to  a  quack  doc 
tor,  playing  on  village  commons  and  in  coun 
try  halls  to  draw  a  crowd  of  prospective  cus 
tomers,  he  felt  that  it  was  hardly  a  thing  to 
be  proud  of.  With  his  college  training  he 
ought  to  be  qualified  for  something  better,  but 
the  cold,  hard  fact  stared  him  in  the  face  that 
it  was  the  only  employment  that  offered,  and 
he  must  accept  it  or  starve.  Walter  had  be 
come  practical.  His  limited  acquaintance 
with  the  wrorld  had  made  him  so,  and  he  was 


150      Walter  Sherwood's  Probatiori. 

not  going  to  refuse  bread  and  butter  because 
it  was  offered  by  a  quack  doctor. 

Within  an  hour  Walter  had  given  up  his 
room — the  rent  had  been  paid  in  advance — 
and  transferred  his  luggage  to  the  Hotel  Bre- 
voort,  where  he  was  assigned  a  small  apart 
ment  on  the  upper  floor. 

"  I  shall  leave  the  city  in  two  days,"  said 
the  professor.  "  I  have  put  an  advertisement 
into  the  daily  papers  which  brings  customers 
to  the  hotel,  but  I  depend  chiefly  upon  my 
sales  on  the  road." 

"  Do  you  travel  on  the  cars?  "  asked  Wal 
ter. 

"  No;  I  have  a  neat  wagon  in  which  I  carry 
a  supply  of  bottles  of  balm,  and  this  enables 
me  to  stop  where  I  like.  I  prefer  villages  to 
very  large  towns  and  cities.  It  is  better  for 
me  to  visit  places  where  there  are  no  drug 
stores,  as  the  people  are  more  dependent  on 
what  is  brought  to  them." 

"  WThen  you  are  in  the  city  shall  I  get  my 
commission?  " 

"  Ahem !  I  am  not  clear  as  to  that,"  an 
swered  Professor  Robinson  thoughtfully. 
"  You  see  you  are  not  called  upon  to  play." 

"  Suppose  you  give  me  five  per  cent,  in 
Chicago  and  large  places?  " 

"  Very  well.     I   will  do  so.     I   will  settle 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      151 

with  you  at  the  end  of  every  week,  if  that  will 
be  satisfactory." 

"  Yes,  sir." 

Two  days  afterward  a  light  wagon  drew  up 
in  front  of  the  hotel,  drawn  by  a  strong  horse, 
and  Walter  helped  the  professor  to  put  a 
trunk  of  medicine  in  the  back  part.  Then  he 
seated  himself  with  Professor  Robinson  on  the 
front  seat,  and  they  set  out  in  the  direction 
of  the  suburbs. 

A  new  life  was  opening  before  Walter. 
What  it  would  lead  to  he  could  not  guess.  At 
any  rate,  it  promised  him  a  living,  and  this 
was  a  practical  advantage  which  he  had 
learned  to  appreciate. 

"  How  long  have  you  been  in  this  business, 
professor?  "  he  asked. 

"  Ten  years,"  answered  the  professor. 

"  How  did  you  happen  to  go  into  it?  " 

"  Pll  tell  you.  Ten  years  ago  I  found  my 
self  in  a  tight  place.  I  was  on  my  uppers,  as 
the  actors  say.  A  friend,  who  was  a  drug 
clerk,  gave  me  the  recipe  for  my  balm.  I  bor 
rowed  a  hundred  dollars,  had  a  quantity  made 
up,  and  set  out  on  the  road." 

"And  now?" 

"  Now  I  am  worth  fifteen  thousand  dollars, 
well  invested,  and  can  make  a  good  living 
every  year." 


152      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

All  this  was  encouraging  to  Walter.     He 
was  eager  to  begin  his  work. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

ON  THE  ROAD. 

ON  a  small  common,  near  the  center  of  the 
village  of  Brandon — for  special  reasons  I  do 
not  give  the  real  names  of  places  visited  by 
the  travelers — Professor  Robinson  halted  his 
wagon  and  signed  to  Walter  to  commence 
playing. 

"  Give  'em  something  popular,"  he  said. 

Walter  struck  up  "  Annie  Rooney,"  and  fol 
lowed  it  up  with  "  McGinty." 

Within  ten  minutes  fifty  persons  were  gath 
ered  about  the  wagon.  Then  the  professor 
held  up  his  hand  and  Walter  stopped. 


young  assistant  will  soon  charm  you  again 
with  the  dulcet  strains  of  his  violin.  But  it 
is  necessary  for  me  to  combine  business  with 
pleasure,  and  it  affords  me  satisfaction  to  call 
your  attention  to  the  surpassing  merits  of  my 
Liquid  Balm,  only  twenty-five  cents  a  bottle. 
It  is  a  sovereign  remedy  for  most  of  the  dis 
eases  that  flesh  is  heir  to.  All  diseases  of  the 
stomach,  liver,  and  lungs,  are,  if  not  cured, 
very  greatly  mitigated  by  this  wonderful  medi- 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      153 

cine.  It  is  the  only  remedy  for  consumption 
that  can  be  relied  upon.  Why,  gentlemen,  a 
year  since  I  was  selling  in  a  small  town  in 
Ohio.  Among  those  who  gathered  about  me 
was  a  hollow-cheeked  man  with  a  churchyard 
cough.  He  asked  me  if  I  would  undertake  to 
cure  him.  I  answered  that  I  would  guarantee 
nothing,  but  was  convinced  that  his  life  would 
be  prolonged  b37  the  use  of  my  balm.  He 
bought  half-a-dozen  bottles.  Where  do  you 
think  that  man  is  now?" 

Voice  in  the  crowd :  "  In  the  grave." 

"  Not  a  bit  of  it,  gentlemen.  He  is  hale 
and  hearty,  his  face  is  full,  his  color  healthy, 
and  he  tips  the  scales  at  one  hundred  and 
seventy-five  pounds.  I  was1  myself  surprised 
at  the  extraordinary  efficacy  of  my  wronderful 
medicine.  He  used  in  all  a  dozen  bottles,  giv 
ing  me  a  second  order  later  on,  and  so  for  the 
paltry  sum  of  three  dollars  was  drawn  back 
from  the  brink  of  the  grave,  and  restored  to 
life  and  health.  Now,  who  will  buy  a  bot 
tle?  » 

This  appeal  sold  eight  bottles. 

A  saffron-faced  man  came  forward  and 
asked  if  the  balm  could  cure  liver-complaint. 

"  My  friend,"  said  the  professor,  "  if  you 
will  try  the  balm — you  ought  to  have  half-a- 
dozen  bottles,  as  it  is  uncertain  when  I  shall 


1 54      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

come  this  way  again — your  liver  will  become 
O.  K.,  and  your  face  will  be  as  fresh  and 
blooming  as  that  of  a  twelve-year-old  boy." 

This  prospect  seemed  so  encouraging  that 
the  saffron-faced  man  bought  four  bottles,  and 
took  the  professor's-  address. 

At  the  end  of  about  twenty  minutes  Walter 
struck  up  again,  a  lively  dancing  tune,  and 
was  listened  to  with  evident  pleasure. 

When  all  who  desired  the  balm  seemed  to 
have  invested,  the  professor  brought  out  a 
supply  of  toilet  soaps,  and  sold  to  the  amount 
of  a  couple  of  dollars. 

At  the  end  of  two  hours  he  packed  up  his 
wares,  Walter  took  a  seat  beside  him,  and 
they  started  for  the  next  village. 

"  You  had  a  pretty  good  sale,  professor," 
said  Walter. 

"  Yes ;  as  well  as  I  can  calculate  I  took  in 
about  ten  dollars." 

Walter  reflected  with  pleasure  that  his  com 
mission  would  amount  to  a  dollar. 

The  professor  had  another  way  of  utilizing 
remedies.  When  he  put  up  for  the  night  at 
a  hotel,  he  usually  succeeded  in  paying  a  part 
of  his  hotel  bill  in  medicine  or  toilet  articles. 
As  his  average  profits  on  the  former  were 
seventy  per  cent.,  and  on  the  latter  forty,  it 
may  be  seen  that  this  was  greatly  to  his  ad- 


Waiter  Sherwood's  Probation.      155 

vantage.  Walter  did  not  wonder  that  he  had 
already  accumulated  a  small  competence. 

On  the  fourth  evening,  as  Walter  was  leav 
ing  the  supper-table,  a  tall  young  man,  looking 
something  like  the  stock  pictures  of  Uncle 
Sam,  came  up  to  him. 

"  Say,  young  fellow,"  he  commenced,  "  some 
of  us  young  people  are  going  to  have  a  dance 
at  the  schoolhouse  hall,  but  we  haven't  got  no 
fiddler.  Peter  Jackson,  who  generally  plays 
for  us,  has  got  the  lumbago  and  can't  play. 
What'll  you  charge?  " 

"  What  do  you  generally  pay  Mr.  Jack 
son?  "  asked  Walter. 

"  Three  dollars  an  evening." 

"  Do  you  think  I  can  play  as  well  as  he?  " 

"  You  kin  play  enough  sight  better.  He 
can't  play  no  tunes  that  ain't  fifty  years  old." 

"  Very  well,  I  will  charge  you  the  same,  that 
is,  if  the  professor  doesn't  object." 

"  Go  ahead  and  see  him  and  let  me  know." 

Walter  sought  the  professor  and  laid  the 
matter  before  him. 

"  All  right !  "  was  the  answer.  "  I've  no  ob 
jection.  You  can  give  me  one-third  of  the 
money  and  keep  the  rest  yourself.  Is  that 
satisfactory?" 

"  Perfectly  so,  sir." 

Walter   played    till   one   o'clock.     He   felt 


156      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

rather  tired  when  he  got  through,  but  he  saw 
that  he  was  making  a  favorable  impression, 
and  the  two  dollars  which  he  would  receive  for 
himself  would  be  of  great  service. 

The  man  who  first  spoke  to  him  paid  him 
the  money. 

"  I  hope  I  gave  satisfaction,"  said  Walter. 

"  Yes,  you  did,  and  no  mistake;  but  some  of 
the  girls  were  sorry  they  couldn't  have  you  for 
a  partner." 

Walter  blushed. 

"  I  am  afraid,"  he  said,  "  that  I  couldn't 
play  and  dance  too." 

At  his  age  few  young  men  are  indifferent  to 
the  favorable  opinion  of  young  ladies,  and 
Walter  would  have  been  glad  to  have  partici 
pated  in  the  dancing.  However,  just  at  pres 
ent,  money  was  more  acceptable  to  him  than 
anything  else. 

When  the  week  was  concluded,  the  profes 
sor  looked  over  his  accounts  and  ascertained 
that  Walter's  commission  amounted  to  nine 
dollars  and  sixty  cents.  The  two  dollars  he 
had  received  for  outside  services  carried  his 
week's  earnings  to  nearly  twelve  dollars. 

He  had  been  out  with  Professor  Robinson 
a  month  when  he  had  a  surprise.  It  was  in 
the  town  of  Glemvood.  His  violin  drew  the 
usual  crowd,  who  were  listening  with  compli- 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      157 

mentary  attention,  when  a  young  man,  who 
casually  paused  to  judge  of  the  musician's 
merits,  started  in  amazement. 

"  By  Jove ! "  he  exclaimed  to  a  young  lady 
who  accompanied  him.  "  That's  my  class 
mate,  Sherwood." 

"  What  do  you  mean,  Hugh? "  asked  the 
young  lady. 

u  I  mean  that  the  young  man  who  is  playing 
on  the  violin  is  my  college  classmate,  Walter 
Sherwood." 

"  But  what  on  earth  can  have  put  him  in 
such  a  position?  Is  he  poor?  " 

"  He  had  the  reputation  of  being  rich  in 
college,  but  I  remember  that  at  the  close  of 
the  sophomore  year  he  was  reported  to  have 
lost  his  money." 

"  He  is  nice-looking  I "  said  the  young  lady, 
after  a  critical  examination  of  Walter. 

"  Yes,  and  he's  no  end  of  a  nice  fellow.  I 
am  truly  sorry  that  he  is  so  reduced." 

"Shall  you  go  and  speak  to  him?" 

"  Yes;  but  I  shall  have  to  wait  till  he  is  at 
leisure." 

"  Then  I  will  go  home  by  myself  and  lonvo 
you  to  confer  together;  and,  by  the  way,  Hugh, 
you  know  we  are  to  have  a  little  company  to 
night.  Do  you  think  your  friend  would  play 
for  us?  He  really  plays  uncommonly  well." 


158      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

"  I  will  invite  him  as  a  guest.  I  shouldn't 
want  to  treat  him  as  a  professional  performer. 
We  can  afford  to  treat  him  as  an  equal,  for  he 
is  of  good  family,  and  brought  up  as  a  gentle 
man." 

"  I  am  quite  willing  to  receive  him  as  such." 

Hugh  Long  wood  remained  in  the  crowd, 
and  when  the  playing  was  over  pushed  up  to 
the  wagon.  Walter  was  assisting  the  profes 
sor  in  serving  out  bottles  of  the  famous  balm. 

"  You  may  give  me  a  bottle,  Walter,"  said 
Longwood. 

"  By  gracious,  Hugh  Longwood ! "  ex 
claimed  Walter.  "  Who  would  have  expected 
to  see  you  here?  " 

"  This  is  my  home.  But  we  certainly  do 
meet  under  strange  circumstances.  What  on 
earth  led  you  into  this  business?" 

"Thrift,  thrift,  Hugh,"  answered  Walter, 
with  a  smile.  "  Let  me  tell  you  that  I  am  mak 
ing  a  good  living  and  benefiting  my  fellow 
men." 

"  But  it  is  such  a  change  from  Euclid  Col 
lege." 

"  True." 

"  Such  a  come  down !  •' 

"  I  don't  know  about  that.  I  am  afraid  my 
career  there  was  not  particularly  creditable. 
Now  I  am  working  and  earning  my  own  liv- 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      159 

ing.     Can  you  wait  till  we  get  through  here? 
Then  I  will  talk  with  you  as  long  as  you  like." 
"  Agreed.    I  am  curious  to  hear  of  your  ad 
ventures." 

Professor  Robinson  proposed  to  stay  in 
Glenwood  overnight,  so  that  Walter  had 
plenty  of  time  to  see  his  friend. 

"  My  sister  is  to  have  a  party  of  friends 
this  evening,  and  she  commissions  me  to  in 
vite  you." 

"  But,"  hesitated  Walter,  "  I  have  no  dress 
suit  here." 

"  You  look  well  enough." 
"  Besides,  I  am  filling  a  very  humble  posi 
tion." 

"  We  know  who  you  are,  and  that  you  are  a 
gentleman.  That  is  enough.  Will  you 
come?  " 

"  Yes,  I  will,"  answered  Walter  heartily. 
"  It  will  be  like  a  taste  of  the  old  life." 

"  And  if  we  should  ask  you  to  favor  us  on 
the  violin?" 

"  I  shall  be  glad  to  contribute  to  the  pleas 
ure  of  the  evening.  But  you  haven't  told  me 
why  you  are  not  back  at  college." 

"  My  father  is  anxious  to  have  me  help  him 
in  his  business.  FTis  health  is  not  what  it 
was.  Not  being  likely  to  set  the  river  on  fire 


160      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

in  any  literary  profession,  I  decided  to  give 
up  the  college  for  the  counting-room." 
"  I  think  you  did  right." 


CHAPTER    XXI. 

MISS  LONGWOOD'S  PARTY. 

AT  eight  o'clock  Walter  reached  the  Long- 
wood  mansion.  It  would  have  been  early  for 
a  party  in  the  city,  but  Glenwood  people  were 
sensible,  and,  beginning  early,  were  able  to 
close  in  good  season. 

The  house  was  a  handsome  one,  and  the 
rooms,  tastefully  furnished,  were  blazing  with 
light,  and  already  half  full. 

Walter  was  quite  at  home  in  society,  and, 
advancing,  greeted  Hugh  and  his  sister,  by 
whom  he  was  cordially  received,  and  intro 
duced  to  other  members  of  the  family. 

About  nine  o'clock  dancing  commenced. 
Walter  did  not  think  it  out  of  place  to  ask  the 
hand  of  Laura  Longwood,  being  so  intimate 
with  her  brother.  She  had  just  accepted  his 
invitation  to  dance,  when  a  dark-complexioned 
young  man,  dressed  in  the  extreme  of  fashion, 
and  evidently  possessing  a  very  high  opinion 
of  his  appearance  and  position,  approached, 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      161 

and  with  a  ceremonious  bow  said :  "  Miss 
Longwood,  may  I  have  the  pleasure  of  dancing 
with  you?" 

"  Not  this  time,  Mr.  Murdock,"  answered 
the  young  lady,  "  I  am  engaged  to  Mr.  Sher 
wood." 

Murdock  upon  this  turned  his  glance  upon 
Walter,  whose  dress,  it  must  be  confessed, 
was  scarcely  befitting  the  occasion,  but  it 
will  readily  be  understood  that  he  could  not 
carry  a  dress  suit  about  with  him. 

"  Oh ! "  said  Murdock,  and  his  scornful 
glance  spoke  volumes. 

"  Let  me  introduce  you  to  Mr.  Sherwood, 
my  brother's  friend,"  continued  the  young- 
lady. 

"I  am  indeed  honored  by  the  introduction," 
said  Murdock,  bowing  very  low. 

Walter  colored,  for  it  was  evident  that  the 
tone  wras  ironical.  He  bowed  coldly,  but  did 
not  speak. 

The  music  struck  up,  and  the  dancing  be 
gan.  Though  Walter  was  plainly  dressed,  he 
was  a  good  dancer,  and  Miss  Longwood  Lad 
no  occasion  to  be  ashamed  of  her  partner. 

Murdock  approached  Hugh  Longwood,  who 
was  busy  in  fcrming  sets  and  was  not  dancing. 

"  Who  is  that  dancing  with  your  sister?  " 
he  asked  abruptly. 


162      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

"  A  college  friend  of  mine — Walter  Sher 
wood." 

"  He  looks  poor." 

"  I  believe  he  has  met  with  a  reverse  of 
fortune." 

"  His  face  looks  familiar.  I  am  quite  sure 
I  have  seen  him  somewhere." 

"  He  only  arrived  in  town  to-day." 

"  I  have  it!  He  was  playing  the  violin  for 
a  fakir  on  the  town  common  this  afternoon." 

"Yes;  it  was  there  I  met  him." 

"Good  heavens!  and  you  invited  him  to 
your  party?  " 

"Why  not?"  demanded  Hugh  coldly. 

"  The  assistant  and  companion  of  a  wander 
ing  fakir!  " 

"  No,  Mr.  Murdock.  I  did  not  invite  him, 
for  my  sister  saved  me  the  trouble." 

"  I  don't  see  how  you  could  sanction  her 
doing  it." 

"  It  strikes  me,  Murdock,  you  are  interfer 
ing  beyond  your  province.  Walter  Sherwood, 
you  will  be  good  enough  to  remember,  is  a 
gentleman  by  birth  and  education,  and  a  col 
lege  classmate  of  mine." 

"  That  may  all  be,  but  think  of  his  posi 
tion  !  " 

"  Suppose   we  drop   this   discussion,"   said 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      163 

Hugh  frigidly.  "  I  shall  invite  whom  I  plca.se, 
and  shall  ask  advice  of  no  one." 

"  Oh,  if  you  take  it  that  way,  I  will  be 
silent." 

"  It  will  be  as  well." 

The  dance  was  over,  and  Murdock,  ap 
proaching  Miss  Lougwood  once  more,  asked 
her  hand  for  the  next  dance.  She  accepted, 
and  they  took  their  places  on  the  floor. 

"  I  can  hardly  expect  to  equal  your  last 
partner,"  said  Murdock,  in  an  ill-tempered 
tone. 

Laura  Longwood  looked  at  him  for  a  mo 
ment  without  speaking.  She  was  ashamed  of 
his  ill-breeding. 

"  Perhaps  not,"  she  answered  composedly. 
"  Mr.  Sherwood  is  a  very  good  dancer." 

"  I  did  not  refer  to  that.  I  referred  rather 
to  his  social  position." 

"  He  is  of  good  family,  I  believe,  but  you 
need  not  be  too  modest  as  regards  yourself." 

"  You  overwhelm  me,"  returned  Murdock, 
with  an  exaggerated  bow;  "and  you  really 
think  me  the  equal  of  Mr.  Sherwood?  " 

"  Is  it  necessary  to  discuss  this  question?7' 
asked  Laura,  getting  more  and  more  disgiu-ted. 
wifh  her  partner. 

«  I  think  I  suw  the  ^eniloiuan   this  after- 


164      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

noon  playing  the  violin  on  the  wagon  of  a 
traveling  fakir." 

"  Yes,  I  saw  him  also." 

"  It  is  an  excellent  position  for  a  young 
man — of  family!"  continued  Murdock,  with 
a  scornful  curl  of  the  lip. 

"  Suppose  we  change  the  subject,  Mr.  Mur 
dock,"  said  Laura  Longwood,  with  dignity. 
"  If  you  desire  a  similar  position  you  can 
speak  to  Mr.  Sherwood." 

"You  are  really  very — very  amusing,  Miss 
Longwood,"  said  Murdock,  biting  his  lip.  "  I 
really  don't  aspire  to  such  prominence.  Be 
sides,  I  don't  play  on  the  violin." 

"  That  is  a  pity.     It  is  a  very  fine  instrr 
ment." 

When  the  dance  was  concluded  Murdo'  . 
sought  another,  but  was  rather  curtly  refus'  ,, 
His  efforts  to  injure  Walter  had  only  led  /,o 
his  own  discomfiture.  When,  a  little  10., er, 
he  saw  Walter  a  second  time  dancing  vith 
Miss  Longwood,  he  began  to  hate  him. 

During  the  last  hour  Walter  obligingly  con 
sented  to  play  on  his  favorite  instrument,  and 
his  performance  gave  pleasure  to  the  entire 
company,  Murdock  alone  excepted. 

When  the  party  broke  up,  it  chanced  that 
Murdock  and  Walter  took  leave  at  the  same 
time.  Walter  was  slightly  in  advance,  when 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      165 

Murdock,  quickening  his  pace,  came  up  with 
him. 

"  Mr.  Sherwood,  I  believe,"  he  said. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  answered  Walter.  "  I  believe 
I  am  addressing  Mr.  Murdock." 

"  You  are.  I  hope  you  will  pardon  my  giv 
ing  you  a  little  kindly  advice." 

"  I  certainly  will  if  it  is  friendly,"  answered 
Walter. 

"  Then,  don't  you  think  you  were  a  little  out 
of  place  this  evening?  " 

"What  do  you  mean?"  asked  Walter 
quickly.  "  Where  was  I  out  of  place?  " 

"At  Miss  Longwood's  party." 

"Why  should  I  be?     She  invited  me." 

"  No  doubt." 

"  As  her  brother's  friend  and  classmate." 

"  That  is  all  very  well,  but  you  don't  seein 
to  consider  your  present  position." 

"  Will  you  be  good  enough  to  tell  me  what 
is  my  present  position?" 

"  You  know  better  than  I  can  tell  you.  You 
are  the  assistant  of  a  low  fakir." 

"  I  accompany  Professor  Robinson  as  a 
musical  assistant,  if  that  is  what  you  mean." 

"  Professor  Robinson  !  "  repeated  Murdock 
scornfully.  "  Where  did  he  get  his  title?  " 

"  You  will  have  to  ask  him,"  said  Walter, 
smiling. 


1 66      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

"  That  is  not  the  point,  however.  You  are 
in  his  employ." 

"Well?" 

"  And  yet  you  attend  an  evening  party  given 
by  a  young  lady  of  high  social  position." 

"  Mr.  Murdock,  you  may  be  surprised  to 
learn  that  it  is  by  no  means  the  first  social 
party  of  the  kind  that  I  have  attended." 

"  That  was  before  you  became  a  fakir." 

"  You  will  oblige  me  by  not  calling  me  a 
fakir.  I  am  earning  my  living  honestly.  I 
don't  know  your  business." 

"  I  am  a  lawyer,"  said  Murdock  haughtily. 

"  I  wish  you  success  in  your  chosen  profes 
sion." 

"  You  are  truly  kind ! "  said  Murdock,  in 
an  unpleasant  tone. 

Walter  looked  at  him  gravely. 

"  Mr.  Murdock,"  he  said,  "  you  have  volun 
teered  to  give  me  advice." 

"  Which  you  are  not  inclined  to  take." 

"  Because  I  consider  you  officious  in  offer 
ing  it.  Now  let  me  give  you  some  advice." 

"  I  shall  be  grateful,  I  am  sure." 

"  Then  let  me  advise  you  hereafter  to  mind 
your  own  business !  " 

"  You  are  impertinent ! "  said  Murdock 
angrily. 

"  That  is  my  opinion  of  you.     One  thing 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      167 

more;  you  are  quite  at  liberty  to  advise  Miss 
Longwood  not  to  take  any  notice  of  me." 

"  I  shall  do  so." 

"  And  you  may  be  sure  that  I  shall  not  call 
upon  her  without  an  invitation.  It  is  hardly 
necessary  to  say  this,  as  I  leave  town  to-mor 
row,  and  it  may  be  a  long  time  before  I  visit 
Glen  wood  again." 

Murdock  heard  this  with  satisfaction,  for 
Walter's  good  looks  and  the  evident  favor 
with  which  he  was  regarded  by  Laura  Long- 
wood  had  made  him  jealous.  He  could  not 
help,  however,  launching  a  final  sarcasm. 

"  Don't  think  me  unkind,  my  good  fellow! " 
he  said  patronizingly.  "  I  feel  kindly  disposed 
to  you,  and  as  a  proof  will  ask  you  to  send 
round  a  bottle  of  your  balm  to  my  office. 
Shall  I  pay  for  it  in  advance?  " 

"  No.  I  will  mention  your  request  to  the 
professor,  and  he  will  probably  be  glad  to 
furnish  you  with  his  medicine.  Good  night!  " 

They  had  reached  the  hotel,  and  Walter  en 
tered. 

"  That  fellow  is  a  snob,"  he  said  to  himself. 
"  He  wishes  me  to  feel  that  one  in  my  posi 
tion  cannot  be  a  gentleman.  If  he  is  one,  I 
don't  want  to  be.  All  his  sneers  won't  make 
me  ashamed  of  earning  my  living  by  an  honest 
use  of  any  gift  that  God  has  given  me." 


1 68      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 


CHAPTER   XXII. 

AN  ADVENTURE. 

THREE  months  passed  without  any  incident; 
worth  recording.  Professor  Robinson's  suc 
cess  was  variable,  but  upon  the  whole  he  had 
reason  to  feel  encouraged.  He  was  an  ex 
cellent  salesman,  and  his  balm,  though  it 
could  not  perform  all  the  wonderful  cures 
claimed  for  it,  really  had  merit,  and  this 
helped  materially. 

So  far  as  Walter  was  concerned,  he  found 
the  professor  an  indulgent  and  honorable  em 
ployer,  whose  word  was  as  good  as  his  bond. 
Every  Saturday  night  there  was  a  statement 
of  sales  for  the  week,  and  Walter  was  paid 
his  commission  of  ten  per  cent.  Though  he 
was  obliged  to  make  some  disbursements,  the 
largest  being  for  a  suit  of  clothes,  he  found 
himself,  at  the  end  of  fourteen  weeks,  pos 
sessed  of  a  balance  of  a  hundred  dollars.  This 
was  a  source  of  great  satisfaction  to  Walter, 
who  had  known  in  Chicago  how  inconvenient 
it  was  to  be  without  money. 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      169 

One  day  the  professor  found  himself  in 
a  Minnesota  village.  He  had  secured  a  va 
cant  lot  on  the  principal  street  for  the  display 
of  his  merchandise.  He  met  with  rather  un 
usual  success,  a  local  celebration  having 
drawn  a  considerable  crowd  to  the  town  of 
Warwick.  Walter,  after  playing  on  the  violin, 
passed  among  the  crowd  with  a  supply  of 
bottles  of  balm,  while  the  professor  was  ex 
patiating  in  an  eloquent  manner  upon  its 
merits.  Among  the  crowd  his  attention  was 
drawn  to  a  roughly  dressed  man,  in  hunting 
costume,  wearing  a  sombrero  with  a  broad 
brim.  His  face  was  dark  and  his  expression 
sinister.  His  eyes  were  very  black  and  keen. 
He  looked  like  a  Spaniard,  and  the  thought 
came  to  Walter  that  he  would  make  an  ideal 
highwayman.  He  was  leaning  carelessly 
against  the  fence  that  separated  the  lot  from 
the  street.  As  Walter  approached  he  moved 
slightly  and  accosted  him. 

"  Say,  young  feller,  is  it  all  true  that  he  " 
— with  a  jerk  of  his  hand  toward  the  professor 
— "says  about  this  balm?'' 

"  Yes,  sir,"  answered  Walter,  in  a  business 
like  tone.  "  It  is  a  very  valuable  remedy  in 
all  cases  of  bruise,  sprain,  rheumatism,  head 
ache,  and  other  kindred  troubles.  Can  I  sell 
you  a  bottle?  " 


170      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

"  Well,  I  don't  inind,"  and  the  stranger 
drew  out  a  silver  quarter  and  tendered  it  in 
payment. 

"  Do  you  sell  much  of  this  stuff?  "  he  asked 
carelessly. 

"  Yes,  we  have  large  sales." 

"  You  are  making  money  fast,  I  reckon." 

"  We  are  doing  very  well,"  answered  Wal 
ter  cautiously. 

"  It's  an  easy  life  to  lead." 

"  Not  so  very  easy.  We  are  on  the  road 
^arly  and  late." 

"  Do  you  stop  here  overnight?  " 

"  No;  I  think  we  will  push  on  to  Fremont." 

"  You'll  get  there  late." 

"  Perhaps  so.  We  shall  not  commence  our 
sales  till  to-morrow. 

"  Why  is  he  so  inquisitive?  "  thought  Wal 
ter,  and  as  he  turned  back  to  scan  once  more 
the  face  of  his  recent  customer  he  became  more 
and  more  distrustful  of  him. 

"  Does  that  man  live  in  town?  "  he  inquired 
of  a  boy. 

"  Who?  That  man  leaning  against  the 
fence?  " 

"  Yes." 

The  boy  shook  his  head. 

f;  I  never  saw  him  before,"  he  said.  u  I 
guess  he  came  to  the  celebration." 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      171 

When  the  sale  was  over  Walter  and  the  pro 
fessor  went  to  the  hotel  for  supper.  Walter 
caught  sight  of  the  mysterious  stranger  in 
the  barroom,  and  could  not  avoid  seeing  that 
he  himself  was  an  object  of  attention.  Why 
this  should  be  he  did  not  understand.  If 
only  he  were  a  mind-reader  and  could  in 
terpret  the  man's  thoughts  it  would  have  re 
lieved  his  anxiety,  for  in  spite  of  himself  he 
was  becoming  anxious  and  apprehensive, 
though  he  could  not  explain  why. 

At  supper  the  stranger  sat  opposite  him. 
He  ate  heartily  and  with  great  rapidity,  yet 
found  time  to  glance  repeatedly  at  Walter  and 
his  employer,  as  if  he  felt  an  interest  in  them. 

Walter  sought  the  professor  after  supper 
and  communicated  to  him  his  fears. 

Professor  Robinson  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"  Your  imagination  is  running  away  with 
you,"  he  said.  "  I  don't  see  anything  extra 
ordinary  about  this  stranger,  except  that  he 
is  far  from  good-looking." 

"Don't  you  think  he  has  a  sinister  look?" 

"  He  is  as  homely  as  the  ace  of  spades,  if 
that  is  what  you  mean.  Suppose  he  is.  All 
homely  men  are  not  suspicious  characters.  If 
they  were,  how  would  we  be  judged?  "  and  the 
professor  laughed  in  a  jolly  way. 


172      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

"  You  have  quite  decided  to  go  through  to 
Fremont  this  evening?  " 

"  Yes ;  I  want  to  reach  Stillman  on  Satur 
day — there  is  to  be  a  county  fair  there — and 
to  make  it  in  time  we  must  be  moving  to 
night." 

Of  course  there  was  no  more  to  be  said. 
Walter  did  not  care  to  interfere  with  the  pro 
fessor's  plans,  and  he  was  ashamed  to  admit 
that  he  was  nervous  and  alarmed.  Perhaps 
his  fears  were  groundless.  He  began  to  think 
so  when  at  seven  o'clock  the  stable-boy  brought 
round  a  powerful  black  horse  to  the  front  of 
the  inn,  and  the  stranger  who  had  given  him 
so  much  anxiety  vaulted  into  the  saddle  and 
rode  away  without  even  turning  to  look  at 
him. 

"Who  is  that  fellow?"  he  asked  of  an  old 
man  who  stood  near,  smoking  a  clay  pipe. 

The  old  man  looked  thoughtfully  at  the 
stranger,  who  had  now  ridden  out  of  the  yard. 

"  Seems  to  me  I've  seen  that  face  before," 
he  said  slowly,  "  but  I  can't  rightly  tell 
where." 

"  He  doesn't  look  like  a  farmer." 

"No;  if  he  lived  anywhere  within  twenty 
miles  I'd  know  him.  He's  a  stranger." 

"  His  looks  don't  recommend  him." 

"  You're   right   there,   boy." 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.       173 

"  I  shouldn't  be  surprised  to  hear  that  he 
was  an  outlaw." 

"  One  of  Jesse  James'  band,  mayhap,"  sug 
gested  the  old  man,  with  a  smile. 

"  Yes,  he  looks  it." 

"  Well,  he's  gone,  so  he  won't  trouble  us." 
This  was  a  consoling  thought  to  Walter. 
He  carried  a  hundred  dollars  in  his  pocket, 
and  he  had  worked  too  hard  for  it  to  feel 
reconciled  to  its  loss1.  The  stranger,  judging 
from  his  appearance,  was1  quite  capable  of 
relieving  him  of  it,  but  now  he  had  ridden 
away,  doubtless  on  business  of  his  own,  and 
the  chances  were  that  they  would  never  meet 
again. 

About  eight  o'clock  Professor  liobinson's 
team  was  brought  round  to  the  door,  and  he 
and  Walter  clambered  upon  the  seat  and  soon 
they  were  under  way. 

"  Were  you  ever  robbed,  professor?  "  asked 
Walter. 

The  professor  smiled. 

"  Yes,"  he  said. 

"By   a   highwayman?" 

"  No,  by  my  assistant,  a  young  man  who 
occupied  your  place.  lie  ha/1  been  with  me  four 
weeks,  and  I  reposed  a  good  deal  of  confidence 
jn  him,  as  I  do  in  you," 


174      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

"  I  hope  you  won't  repent  your  confidence 
in  me,  professor." 

"  I  am  sure  I  shall  not.  But  to  come  back 
to  my  story.  Charles  Wright  was  a  good- 
looking,  smooth-faced  fellow  of  twenty,  and 
had  a  good  turn  for  business.  The  trouble 
with  him  was  that  he  was  extravagant,  and 
never  had  a  cent  ahead." 

"  Did  he  earn  as  much  as  I  do?  " 

"  Yes,  for  business  with  me  was  unusually 
good  at  the  time  he  was  with  me.  However, 
he  never  could  save  money.  Usually  we  occu 
pied  different  rooms  at  the  hotels  we  stopped 
at,  but  one  night  the  hotel  was  crowded  and 
we  were  obliged  to  room  together.  Now,  as 
you  know,  I  am  a  sound  sleeper.  I  am  asleep 
five  minutes  after  my  head  touches  the  pillow, 
and  even  a  thunder-storm  during  the  night 
would  scarcely  waken  me.  On  some  accounts1 
this  is  an  advantage,  but,  as  you  will  see,  it 
turned  out  unluckily  for  me  on  the  night  I 
am  speaking  of.  I  awoke  at  the  usual  time — 
seven  o'clock — and  on  opening  my  eyes  I  saw 
at  once  that  my  young  assistant  .was  not  in 
the  room.  This  gave  me  no  uneasiness.  I 
presumed  that  he  had  waked  up  after  a  good 
night's  sleep  and  was  taking  a  morning  walk. 
I  rose  from  the  bed,  put  on  my  clothes  lei 
surely,  and  it  was  only  after  I  was  completely 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      175 

dressed  that  I  felt  in  my  pocket  for  my  wallet. 
Then  I  made  a  startling  discovery.  The  wal 
let  was  gone!" 

"  Was  there  much  money  in  it?  " 
"  About  a  hundred  and  ten  dollars.     For 
tunately  I  had  about  fifty  dollars  besides  in 
another  pocket,  so  that  I  was  not  left  quite 
penniless." 

"  Was  your  assistant  the  thief?  " 
"  There  is  no  doubt  about  it.    He  had  gone 
downstairs  at  five  o'clock,  told  the  clerk  he 
was  going  for  a  walk,  and  did  not  show  up 
after  that." 

"  Have  you  seen  or  heard  of  him  since?  " 
"  No;  I  may  meet  him  again  some  time,  but 
I  doubt  if  I  should  have  him  arrested.  He  in 
jured  himself  more  than  he  did  me.  I  lost; 
a  hundred  dollars  or  more,  but  he  lost  a  good1 
place  and  his  character  for  honesty.  Depend 
upon  it,  Walter,  honesty  is  the  best  policy  in 
the  long  run." 

"  I  am  sure  of  that,  sir." 
Four  miles  from  the  hotel  they  entered  a 
wood,  through  which  the  road  ran  for  half-a- 
mile.  It  was  dark,  but  not  completely  dark. 
A  few  stars  sent  down  a  faint  light.  By  the 
light  of  those  stars  Walter  descried  a  man, 
mounted  on  a  large  horse,  stationed  motion- 


176      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

less  in  the  middle  of  the  road,  apparently  wait 
ing  for  them  to  come  up. 

"Professor!"  he  exclaimed,  clutching  his 
employer  by  the  arm,  "  that's  the  man  we  saw 
at  the  hotel !  " 


CHAPTER    XXIII. 

WALTER  AND  THE  HIGHWAYMAN. 

THE  professor  was  startled  at  the  exclama 
tion,  but  was  unwilling  to  believe  that  the 
man  before  him  was  a  highwayman. 

"  My  friend,"  he  said,  "  won't  you  move  to 
one  side?  You  are  in  my  path." 

"  We  have  a  little  business  together,"  said 
the  horseman  grimly,  as  he  drew  out  and  pre 
sented  a  revolver.  "  That  must  be  attended 
to  first." 

"Do  you  wish  a  bottle  of  balm?"  inquired 
Professor  Robinson,  in  a  tremulous  voice. 

"  No ;  you  may  need  one  yourself  unless  we 
come  to  terms." 

"  What  do  you  mean?  " 

"  Hand  over  your  pocketbook,  old  man,  and 
be  quick  about  it." 

"  I  presume  you  are  joking,"  said  the  pro 
fessor  nervouslv. 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      177 

"  You  won't  find   it  much  of  a  joke ! " 

"Are  you  a — highwayman?"  gasped  the  pro 
fessor. 

The  other  gave  a  quick,  short  laugh. 

"  You  may  call  me  that  if  you  like,"  he 
said. 

Now,  Professor  Eobinson  had,  as  was 
natural,  a  decided  objection  to  surrendering 
his  money,  and,  though  there  seemed  little 
chance  of  producing  an  effect  on  the  mind  of 
the  outlaw,  ventured  to  remonstrate. 

"  My  friend,"  he  said,  "  if  you  are  in  want 
I  will  lend,  nay,  give  you  five  dollars,  out  of 
a  spirit  of  humanity;  but  I  trust  you  will  not 
jeopardize  your  liberty  by  descending  to 
robbery." 

"  Five  dollars  won't  do,  old  man !  Hand 
over  your  wallet  with  all  there  is  in  it,  and 
dry  up  that  Sunday-school  talk." 

"  What  shall  I  do,  Walter?  "  asked  the  poor 
professor. 

"  I  am  afraid  you  will  have  to  let  him  have 
it,  professor." 

"That's  where  your  head  is  level,  boy!" 
said  the  highwayman  approvingly.  "  Just 
fling  over  your  wallet,  and  be  quick  about  it." 

"  Tell  him  to  ride  up  and  get  it,"  said  Wal 
ter,  in  an  undertone. 

Though  the  professor  did  not  understand 


178      Walter  Shenvood's  Probation. 

Walter's  object  in  suggesting  this,  he  was  in 
a  mood  to  be  guided  by  any  one,  and  repeated 
Walter's  words. 

"  Anything  to  oblige,"  said  the  stranger. 

"  Don't  give  it  to  him  till  I  say  the  word," 
whispered  Walter. 

The  highwayman,  lowering  his  revolver, 
rode  up  alongside  of  the  wagon  and  held  out 
his  hand  for  the  wallet. 

Walter  had  conceived  a  bold  scheme  for 
disarming  him  and  rendering  him  harmless. 

"  Give  the  wallet  to  me,  professor,"  he  said. 

His  employer  meekly  obeyed. 

Then  Walter,  rising,  dropped  the  wallet  on 
the  floor  of  the  wagon  and  reaching  over  sud 
denly  grasped  the  revolver  from  the  unsuspect 
ing  robber,  and  before  he  recovered  from  his 
amazement  brought  down  the  whip  with 
terrible  force  on  the  flanks  of  his  horse.  The 
startled  animal  gave  a  spring  that  nearly  un 
seated  his  rider  and  dashed  madly  down  the 
road. 

The  robber  was  furious.  As  soon  as  he 
could  he  regained  control  of  his  steed  and 
galloped  back. 

"  Give  me  that  revolver ! "  he  shouted,  in 
a  rage. 

Walter  held  the  weapon  in  his  hand  and 
steadily  pointed  it  at  its  late  owner. 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      179 

"  I'll  give  you  the  contents  if  you  don't  ride 
off." 

"Confound  you,  you  young  rascal!  If 
you  don't  give  me  back  my  weapon  I'll  kill 
you ! " 

It  was  an  empty  threat,  as  Walter  well 
knew. 

"  Do  you  hear  me?  "  he  said  quietly. 

The  robber  scanned  him  curiously.  He  lia'l 
thought  him  a  mere  boy,  without  spirit  or 
courage.  Now  he  was  compelled  to  revise 
his  opinion  of  him.  Threats  would  not  an 
swer.  He  must  have  recourse  to  strategy. 

"  You're  smart,  youngster.  I'll  give  you 
credit  for  that,"  he  said,  in  a  milder  tone. 
"  You've  got  the  best  of  me,  I  admit." 

"  Yes,"  answered  Walter,  "  I  have  the  ad 
vantage  of  you." 

"  I  meant  to  take  your  money,  but  I  won't 
do  it  now." 

"  Thank  you ! "  said  Walter,  with  an 
ironical  smile. 

"  Just  give  me  back  that  weapon  of  mine, 
and  I'll  ride  off  and  let  you  alone." 

"  I  don't  think  it  would  be  wise." 

The  highwayman  frowned. 

"Don't  be  a  fool,  youngster!"  he  said. 
"  Do  you  doubt  my  word?'' 

"  I  don't  know  you  well  enough  to  decide 


180      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

whether  you  are  to  be  trusted,  but  I  guess  I'll 
keep  the  revolver." 

"  Then  you  will  have  robbed  me." 

"  Walter,"  said  the  professor  nervously, 
"perhaps  you  had  better  give  him  back  his 
weapon.  He  has  promised  not  to  molest  us 
further." 

"  That's  where  you  talk  sense,  old  man," 
said  the  robber  approvingly.  "  You're  a 
gentleman,  you  are!" 

"  You  hear,  Walter?  " 

"  Yes,  youngster,  you  hear?  Give  me  back 
my  weapon  and  we'll  part  friends." 

"  And  I  trust,  my  friend,  you  will  see  the 
error  of  your  ways  and  adopt  some  honest 
business." 

"  I  will,  old  man,  believe  me ! "  said  the 
robber,  in  a  melodramatic  tone.  "  I  was  not 
always  thus." 

"  You  will  have  my  best  wishes  for  your 
prosperity,  and  if  you  are  in  need  I  will  give 
you  five  dollars." 

"  No,  I  will  not  take  advantage  of  your 
liberal  offer.  Only  give  me  the  revolver  and 
I  will  ride  away." 

"  Come,  Walter,  give  the  man  his  revolver." 

"  Professor,"  said  Walter  quietly,  "  you 
must  excuse  me,  I  can't  comply  with  your  re 
quest.  This  man  is  humbugging  you.  If  I 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      181 

give  him  back  the  revolver,  you  will  have  to 
give  him  your  wallet,  too." 

"  Didn't  I  promise  to  ride  away? "  de 
manded  the  outlaw  angrily. 

"Yes;  but  I  put  no  confidence  in  your 
promise.  Now  go  at  once,  or  I  fire !  " 

Walter  pointed  the  revolver  full  at  the  rob 
ber's  head.  He  met  the  unflinching  gaze  of 
Walter's  resolute  eyes  and  saw  that  our  hero 
was  in  earnest. 

"  Do  you  mean  to  keep  my  property?  "  he 
demanded  hoarsely. 

"  No ;  come  round  to  the  hotel  in  Fremont 
to-morrow  morning  and  you  shall  have  your 
weapon." 

With  an  execration  the  outlaw  turned  his 
horse  and  dashed  off  at  full  speed. 

"  There,  he  is  gone ! "  said  Walter,  sinking 
back  in  his  seat  with  an  air  of  relief.  His 
nerves  had  been  at  high  tension,  though  he 
was  outwardly  calm,  for  he  knew  that  he  had 
to  deal  writh  a  desperate  man,  and  feared  a 
sudden  attack,  which  might  have  resulted  dis 
astrously  for  htm. 

"  I  don't  know  whether  you  have  done  right, 
Walter,"  said  the  professor,  in  a  tone  of  mild 
deprecation. 

"  Surely,  professor,  you  would  not  have  had 
me  give  back  the  revolver?  " 


182      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

"  He  promised  to  ride  off  and  leave  us  to 
ourselves." 

"What  is  the  word  of  such  a  man  worth? 
He  would  have  ridden  off,  but  he  would  have 
carried  with  him  your  wallet  and  mine.  Was 
there  much  money  in  yours1?  " 

"  Two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars." 

"  That's  too  much  to  lose.  Take  my  advice, 
professor,  and  put  the  greater  part  of  the 
money  in  one  of  your  pockets.  That  is  what 
I  have  done,  for  I  suspected  that  this  gentle 
man  would  lie  in  wait  for  us." 

"  What  put  it  into  your  head  to  seize  the 
pistol,  Walter?  If  your  attempt  had  mis 
carried  he  might  have  shot  you." 

"  I  don't  propose  to  give  up  my  money  with 
out  a  struggle.  When  the  time  came  to  act, 
I  moved  suddenly  upon  the  enemy.  I  did  not 
propose  to  fail." 

"  You  were  very  quick.  You  were  like  a 
flash  of  lightning." 

"  I  meant  to  be,"  said  Walter,  smiling.  "  I 
haven't  attended  a  gymnasium  for  nothing." 

"  Do  you  think  he  will  attack  us  again?  " 
asked  the  professor  timidly. 

"  No ;  he  has  no  revolver  and  I  have.  Be 
sides,  I  don't  mean  to  be  taken  at  a  disadvan 
tage.  If  you  will  drive,  I  will  hold  the  revol 
ver  ready  for  instant  use." 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      183 

There  was-  no  further  interruption  during 
their  ride,  and  about  ten  o'clock  they  drew  up 
in  front  of  the  hotel  in  Fremont.  Rooms  were 
secured,  and  both  Walter  and  the  professor 
retired  to  rest. 

About  seven  o'clock  the  next  morning  there 
was  a  knock  at  Walter's  door.  He  opened  it, 
half  dressed,  and  found  a  boy  of  sixteen  with 
a  note  in  his  hand. 

"  A  gentleman  gave  me  this  for  you,"  he 
said. 

Walter  opened  the  note  and  read  these 
lines,  which  had  been  hastily  scribbled: 

"  Give  the  bearer  my  revolver.  I  have  a 
long  journey  before  me,  and  shall  need  it. 

"  You  KNOW  WHO." 

"  Where  is  the  gentleman  who  gave  you  the 
note?"  asked  Walter. 

"  Down  the  road  a  piece.  He  asked  me  to 
be  quick." 

"  Tell  him,"  said  Walter,  putting  the  note 
in  his  vest  pocket,  "  that  he  will  have  to  come 
here  himself." 

He  finished  his  toilet  and  went  down  to 
breakfast,  but  the  robber  did  not  put  in  nn 
appearance.  He  probably  thought  that  Wal 
ter  was  laying  a  trap  for  him. 


184       Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 


CHAPTER    XXIV. 

AN  ATTEMPT  TO  RECOVER  THE  REVOLVER. 

As  Walter  had  been  brought  up  with  a  strict 
sense  of  honesty,  he  was  somewhat  in  doubt 
whether  he  ought  to  keep  the  revolver,  which 
was  a  handsome  one,  silver  mounted.  He  de 
cided,  however,  that  it  would  be  quixotic  to 
disarm  himself  and  put  the  outlaw  in  a  posi 
tion  to  renew  his  attack,  as  he  undoubtedly 
would,  if  only  because  he  would  wish  to  get 
even  with  the  boy  who  had  humiliated  him. 
Walter  had,  to  be  sure,  promised  to  give  it  up 
if  the  owner  called  for  it,  but  he  meant  at  the 
same  time  to  secure  his  arrest. 

He  did  not  mention  to  the  professor  that  he 
had  received  a  letter  from  the  owner  of  the 
weapon,  as  his  employer  would  have  insisted 
upon  his  giving  it  up.  Professor  Robinson 
was  a  timid  man,  and  though  he  was  of  stout 
build  and  possessed  a  fair  measure  of 
strength,  he  had  not  as  much  spirit  as  some 
boys  of  ten. 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do  with  the  re- 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.        185 

volver,  Walter? "  he  asked  uneasily  as  they 
set  out  on  their  way  from  Fremont  to  Stil- 
well." 

"  I  am  going  to  carry  it  with  me,  professor." 

"  Then  you  had  better  withdraw  the 
charges." 

"Why  should  I?" 

"  The  weapon  might  go  off." 

"  I  mean  it  shall  if  the  owner  makes  another 
attack  upon  us." 

"  You  don't  think  he  will?"  asked  the  pro 
fessor  nervously. 

u  I  think  it  very  probable." 

"  I  wish  we  had  never  met  him,"  said  the 
unhappy  professor. 

"  So  do  I ;  but  as  we  have,  we  must  make 
the  best  of  it." 

"  If  you  had  only  given  him  back  the  re 
volver  we  should  have  had  no  more  trouble." 

"  Pardon  me,  professor,  I  think  we  should 
have  had  a  good  deal  of  trouble.  Once  give 
the  fellow  his  old  advantage  over  us,  and  he 
would  use  it." 

"  I  never  had  such  an  experience  before," 
complained  the  professor,  looking  at  Walter 
reproachfully,  as1  if  he  thought  that  somehow 
it  was  the  fault  of  his  young  assistant. 

\Valter  smiled. 

"  Do  you  know,  professor/'  he  said,  "  your 


1 86      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

remark  reminds  me  of  a  statement  in  an  Irish 
paper  to  this  effect :  l  Several  persons  have 
died  during  the  last  year  who  never  died  be 
fore/  » 

"  I  don't  see  the  point,"  said  the  professor 
peevishly. 

They  were  about  half-way  to  the  next  town 
when  Walter  heard  the  sound  of  a  galloping 
horse  behind  him. 

Looking  out  of  the  side  of  the  wagon,  he 
eaw  the  now  familiar  figure  of  the  outlaw  as 
he  rode  up  alongside.  He  looked  critically  at 
Walter,  and  saw  that  the  coveted  revolver  was 
in  our  hero's  hand,  ready  for  action. 

"  Why  didn't  you  give  the  revolver  to  my 
messenger  this  morning,  boy?"  he  demanded, 
with  a  frown. 

"  I  didn't  think  it  would  be  safe,"  Walter 
answered  significantly. 

"  Didn't  you  know  it  was  my  property? " 

"  I  wasn't  sure  of  it." 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  that?  " 

"  I  didn't  know  whether  you  had  paid  for 
it." 

"  You  are  impudent.  Professor  Robinson, 
will  you  make  the  boy  give  me  back  my  re 
volver?  " 

"  I  have  told  him  to,"  answered  the  profes- 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      187 

sor,  in  an  apologetic  tone,  "  but  he  won't  obey 
me." 

"  Then  why  don't  you  discharge  him?  I 
wouldn't  keep  a  boy  in  my  employ  who  dis 
obeyed  me." 

"  I  am  well  satisfied  with  him,  except  OQ 
this  point." 

"  I  am  ready  to  leave  you,  professor,  if  you 
say  the  word,''  said  Walter,  and  he  made  a 
motion  as  if  to  jump  out  of  the  wagon. 

"  No,  no ! "  exclaimed  the  professor,  in 
alarm.  "  I  don't  want  you  to  leave  me." 

"  Then  I  won't.  I  think  it  might  be  bad  for 
you  if  I  did,"  said  Walter,  with  a  significant 
look  at  the  horseman. 

"  Well,  boy,"  said  the  outlaw  harshly.  "  I 
can't  waste  my  time  here.  You  sent  me  a 
message  to  come  for  my  revolver  mysalf  if  I 
wanted  it." 

"  Yes." 

"  Well,  here  I  am !  Now  give  me  the 
weapon." 

"I  think  I  shall  have  to  decline." 

"Are  you  going  back  on  your  word?"  de 
manded  the  outlaw. 

"  Not  exactly." 

"  Then  what  do  you  propose  to  do?  " 

"Keep  along  with  us  till  we  reach  Stilwell. 
Then  we  will  go  before  a  magistrate.  You 


1 88      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

will  make  your  demand  for  the  weapon,  and 
in  liis  presence  I  will  surrender  it." 

"Do  you  take  me  for  a  fool?"  thundered 
the  robber. 

"  No,  and  I  want  you  to  understand  that  I 
am  not  a  fool,  either." 

"  You  are  acting  like  a  fool  and  a  knave." 

"  I  should  certainly  be  acting  like  a  fool  if 
I  gave  up  the  revolver,,  and  had  it  immediately 
pointed  at  me  or  my  companion,  with  a  de 
mand  for  our  money." 

"  But  I  gave  you  my  word " 

"  Of  course  you  did,  but  I  put  no  confidence 
in  your  word." 

While  this  conversation  was  going  on  the 
poor  professor  looked  on  and  listened  with  an 
expression  of  helplessness  on  his  broad  face. 
He  was  essentially  a  man  of  peace,  and  was1 
by  no  means  fitted  to  deal  with  a  highwayman. 

"  Look  here,"  said  the  outlaw,  after  a  pause, 
and  in  a  milder  tone,  "  I  have  a  special  attach 
ment  for  that  weapon  or  I  would  drop  the 
whole  matter  and  buy  another  one.  But  this 
was  given  me  by  an  old  pal,  now  dead,  and  I 
set  great  store  by  it.  Professor,  although  the 
revolver  is  mine  by  rights,  I  will  waive  all 
that  and  offer  you  twenty-five  dollars  for  it. 
That  will  pay  you  for  all  the  trouble  I  have 
put  you  to." 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      189 

Professor  Robinson,  though  not  a  mean 
man,  was  fond  of  money,  and  this  offer  tempt 
ed  him.  It  would  be  getting  twenty-five  dol 
lars  for  nothing,  and  that  was  a  piece  of 
good  luck  not  likely  to  present  itself  every 
day. 

"  I  accept  your  offer,"  he  said  gladly. 

"  But  I  don't,"  put  in  Walter  calmly.  "  Al 
low  me  to  say  that  the  professor  has  no  claim 
to  the  weapon.  I  took  it  with  my  own  hand, 
and  it  has  never  been  in  his  possession." 

"  All  right !  Then  I'll  give  you  twenty-five 
dollars  for  it." 

"  I  decline  your  offer." 

"  I'd  like  to  wring  your  neck,  you  young 
thief!" 

"  I  have  no  doubt  you  would." 

"  Once  more,  and  for  the  last  time,  will 
you  give  me  back  that  revolver?  " 

"  I  have  told  you  when  and  on  what  condi 
tions  I  would  surrender  it." 

"  When?  " 

"  At  Stilwell,  in  presence  of  a  magistrate." 

"  You  are  very  crafty.  You  want  me  to 
be  arrested  for  attempted  robbery?" 

"  Yes,  that  is  my  wish." 

"  I've  a  great  mind  to  snatch  the  revolver 
from  you," 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

"  Come  on,  then ! "  said  Walter,  holding  it 
firmly,  pointing  at  the  outlaw. 

"  You've  got  the  drop  on  me,  youngster;  but 
mark  my  word,  I'll  have  that  weapon  yet,  and 
I'll  punish  you  for  giving  me  all  this  trouble." 

"  Have  you  anything  more  to  say?  " 

"No." 

"  Then  suppose  you  ride  on.  We  have  been 
delayed  long  enough." 

The  robber  did  go  on,  but  aimed  a  volley 
of  imprecations  at  Walter,  of  which  the  latter 
took  no  notice. 

In  the  early  evening  they  arrived  at  Stil- 
well  and  secured  rooms  at  the  hotel. 

Among  the  guests  was  a  cattleman  from 
Dakota,  who  had  been  to  Chicago  with  a  herd 
of  cattle  and  was  now  on  his  way  back.  He 
was  loud  in  his  complaints  of  a  highwayman 
whom  he  met  two  days  previous,  who  had  re 
lieved  him  of  a  wallet  containing  five  hundred 
dollars. 

"Won't  you  describe  him?"  asked  Walter, 
struck  by  a  sudden  suspicion. 

The  cattle-dealer  did  so.  His  description 
tallied  with  the  personal  appearance  of  Wal 
ter's  enemy. 

"Was  he  on  foot?"  asked  Walter, 

"  Xo ;  he  was  on  a  black  horse," 

Walter  nodded, 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      iQl 

"  I  know  him,"  he  said. 

"  Has  he  robbed  you?  " 

"  No,  I  have  robbed  him." 

"What  do  you  mean?"  inquired  the  cattle- 
dealer,  in  wonder. 

"  Do  you  recognize  this?  "  and  Walter  ex 
hibited  the  revolver. 

"  Yes,  it  looks  like  the  revolver  he  pointed 
at  me." 

"  Probably  it  is." 

"  But  how  do  you  happen  to  have  it?  " 

"  I  took  it  from  him." 

"  You — a  mere  boy ! "  exclaimed  the  cattle- 
dealer  incredulously. 

"  Yes.     I  will  tell  you  about  it." 

And  Walter  gave  an  account  of  the  circum 
stances  under  which  the  revolver  had  come 
into  his  possession. 

"  It  is  a  handsome  weapon,"  said  the  cattle- 
dealer,  taking  it  into  his  hands  and  examining 
it.  "  It  must  be  worth  a  hundred  dollars." 

"  I  think  I  shall  keep  it  for  my  own  use," 
said  Walter  quietly. 

"  I'll  give  you  seventy-five  dollars  for  it." 

"  I  would  rather  not  part  with  it.  Indeed, 
I  should  not  feel  justified  in  selling  it,  con- 
Hid<'ring  the  way  it  came  into  my  hands." 

"  Well,  boy,  you're  a  smart  one,  but  I  sur 
mise  you  haven't  seen  the  last  of  the  owner." 

The  speaker  was  right. 


192      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

CHAPTER    XXV. 
DICK  RANNEY'S  SCHEME. 

DICK  RANNEY — for  the  first  time  we  give 
the  name  of  the  highwayman — had  no  inten 
tion  of  going  away  without  his  revolver.  It 
had  been  his  constant  companion  for  years, 
and  had  served  him  well  during  his  connec 
tion  with  the  famous  band  of  Jesse  James. 
Now,  his  leader  dead,  he  was  preying  upon  the 
community  on  his  own  account.  So  daring 
and  so  full  of  resources  was  he  that  he  had 
never  been  arrested  but  once,  and  then  man 
aged  to  escape  from  the  cabin  in  which  he 
was  temporarily  confined. 

The  weapon  he  was  so  anxious  to  recover 
had  been  given  him  by  his  old  commander, 
and  for  this  reason,  and  also  because  the  re 
volver  was  a  very  handsome  and  valuable  one, 
he  was  willing  to  expose  himself  to  the  risk 
of  capture  in  order  to  recover  it. 

The  opposition  he  met  with  from  a  "  beard 
less  boy,"  as  he  styled  Walter,  irritated  and 
(Surprised  him.  He  was  fifty  pounds  heavier 
than  Walter,  and  he  had  expected  that  a 
mere  boy  would  give  in  almost  immediately. 
But  he  saw  that  he  had  misjudged  the  lad. 
He  was  little  more  than  a  boy  in  years  and  ap 
pearance,  but  he  evidently  had  a  man's  cour- 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      193 

age  and  spirit.  Ranney  would  have  secured 
another  revolver  if  he  had  not  felt  so  certain 
of  recovering  his  own.  After  his  last  failure 
he  began  to  consider  what  course  to  adopt. 

It  was  easy  to  find  out  the  professor's  route, 
lie  knew  that  he  was  to  stay  a  night  at  Stil- 
well,  and  to  Stilwell  he  went.  lie  did  not  ven 
ture  into  the  village  until  nightfall,  and  then, 
for  reasons  easy  to  divine,  he  abstained  from 
visiting  the  hotel. 

Looking  about  for  a  confederate,  his  atten 
tion  was  drawn  to  a  boy  of  sixteen  who  was 
sawing  wood  in  front  of  a  humble  cottage 
half-a-mile  from  the  village. 

"  I  see  you  know  how  to  work,"  said  Dick 
Ranney  affably,  as  he  leaned  carelessly 
against  the  fence. 

"  I  know  how,  but  I  don't  like  it,"  answered 
the  boy,  pausing  in  his  task. 

"  I  don't  blame  you.  I  don't  like  that  kind 
of  work  myself." 

"  I  guess  you  don't  have  to  do  it  now,"  said 
the  boy,  glancing  at  the  neat  and  expensive 
attire  of  his  new  acquaintance. 

"  Well,  no,  I  can  do  better." 

"  Are  you  in  business?  " 

"  Yes,"  answered  Ranney  vaguely.  "  I  am 
traveling  for  a  house  in  New  York." 

"  I  should  like  that." 


194      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

"  Give  me  jour  name.  I  may  be  able  to 
give  you  a  place  some  day." 

"  My  name  is  Oren  Trott." 

Dick  Ranney  took  out  a  note-book  and  put 
the  name  down,  greatly  to  the  boy's  satisfac 
tion. 

"  By  the  way,"  wTent  on  Ranney,  "  do  you 
want  to  earn  half-a-dollar?  " 

"  Yes,"  answered  Oren,  with  alacrity. 

"  Perhaps  I  can  put  you  in  the  way  of  doing 
so.  Do  you  know  the  hotel  people?  " 

"  Yes,  sir.    I  worked  there  for  a  short  time." 

"  All  the  better.  Then  you  know  about  the 
house,  the  location  of  rooms,  etc.?" 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  There  are  two  parties  staying  there  in 
whom  I  am  interested.  One  is  Professor  Rob 
inson." 

"  Yes,  I  know — the  man  that  sells  bottles 
of  balm." 

"  The  same." 

"  I  saw  him  come  into  town  with  his 
wagon." 

"  Well,  I  want  to  find  what  room  he  will 
occupy  to-night.  The  fact  is,"  he  continued, 
as  he  noted  Oren's  look  of  surprise,  "  the  man 
owes  me  quite  a  sum  of  money,  and  is  trying 
to  evade  payment." 

"  He  doesn't  look  like  that  kind  of  man," 
eaid  Oren  thoughtfully. 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      195 

"  My  boy,  you  are  young  and  are  hardly 
qualified  to  judge  of  a  man  by  his  appearance. 
The  man  looks  honest,  I  admit,  but  he's 
slippery.  And,  by  the  way,  did  you  notice  a 
young  fellow  in  the  wagon  with  him?" 

"  Yes,  sir;  he  isn't  much  larger  than  I  am." 

"  Exactly  so.  Well,  I  want  to  find  out  what 
room  he  occupies,  also." 

"  Yes,  sir,"  answered  Oren,  looking  a  little 
surprised. 

"  You  see,"  explained  Dick  Ranney,  "  I 
want  to  make  the  professor  a  call,  and  I  can 
perhaps  tell  from  the  outside  whether  he  is 
in  or  not.  He  will  avoid  meeting  me  if  he  can. 
Now,  do  you  think  you  can  find  out  for  me 
what  I  require?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Then  go  at  once." 

"  Shall  I  find  you  here  when  I  get  back?" 
asked  Oren  cautiously. 

"  Yes." 

"  I  wouldn't  like  to  take  all  that  trouble  for 
nothing." 

"  YTou  won't.  Here  is  a  quarter  in  advance, 
and  I  will  give  you  the  fifty  cents  besides,  if 
you  find  out  what  I  wish." 

"  Good  for  you !  You're  a  gentleman !  " 
said  Oren,  with  an  expression  of  satisfaction 
on  his  lionost  country  f;< 


196      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

Two  hours  later  Walter  and  tlie  cattle- 
dealer  returned  from  a  walk  they  had  taken 
together.  Walter  found  his  new  acquaintance, 
though  not  an  educated  man,  an  agreeable 
companion,  and  by  no  means  deficient  in 
shrewdness,  though  he  had  allowed  himself  to 
be  robbed  by  Dick  Rauney. 

They  went  up  to  the  desk  for  their  keys. 

"Will  you  two  gentlemen  do  me  a  favor?" 
asked  the  clerk. 

"What  is  it?"  asked  the  cattle-dealer. 

"  A  gentleman  and  lady  have  just  arrived 
and  want  to  stay  here  to-night,  but  the  num 
ber  of  our  rooms  is  limited,  and  we  are  full. 
Now,  if  you,  sir,  will  go  into  Mr.  Sherwood's 
room — there  are  two  beds  there — we  shall  be 
able  to  give  the  party  yours." 

"  I  have  no  objection  if  he  hasn't,"  said  the 
cattle-dealer. 

"  I  have  none  whatever,"  said  Walter  cheer 
fully. 

"  Then  we  can  fix  it.  I  am  sure  I  am  very 
much  obliged  to  you  both.  By  the  way,  Mr. 
Sherwood,  there  was  a  boy  here  a  little  while 
since  who  was  anxious  to  find  out  what  room 
you  occupied,  also  what  room  was.  Professor 
Robinson's." 

"  A  boy?  "  repeated  Walter,  puzzled. 

"  Yes,  a  village  boy — Oreu  Trott " 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      197 

"  I  don't  know  any  such  boy." 

"  He  is  a  good,  industrious  lad." 

"  That  may  all  be,  but  what  does  he  want 
to  know  about  my  room  for?  " 

"  That's  the  question  I  put  to  him.  I  found 
him  very  close-mouthed  at  first,  but  finally  he 
admitted  that  he  was  employed  by  some  man 
— a  stranger  in  the  village — to  find  out." 

Walter  and  the  cattle-dealer  exchanged, 
glances.  The  same  thought  had  come  to  each. 

"  Did  he  describe  the  man?  " 

"  No;  it  seems  he  did  not  take  much  notice 
of  him." 

"  Was  that  all  the  boy  wanted  to  know?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  He  didn't  say  what  the  man's  object  was 
in  seeking  this  information?" 

"  No.     Probably  he  didn't  know." 

Walter  and  his  new  friend,  whom  we  will 
call  Manning,  went  up-stairs. 

"  What  does  it  all  mean,  Mr.  Manning? " 
asked  Walter. 

"  It  probably  means  that  our  old  friend  pro 
poses  to  make  a  call  upon  you  during  the 
night." 

"Do  you  really  think  so?"  asked  Walter, 
naturally  startled  at  the  suggestion. 

"  Yes.  Yrou  still  have  his  revolver,  you 
know." 


198      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

"I  think  he  will  find  me  ready  for  him/'  said 
Walter  resoluU'l}-. 

"  He  will  find  us  ready,  you  mean,"  cor- 
'  rected  Manning.  "  You  know  I  am  going  to 
be  your  roommate." 

"  I  am  glad  of  that,  under  the  circum 
stances." 

"  So  am  I.  I  should  like  to  recover  the 
money  the  fellow  robbed  me  of.  I  should  like 
to  know  his  name." 

"  I  can  tell  you  that.  I  was  examining  the 
revolver  this  afternoon,  when  I  saw  a  name 
engraved  upon  it  in  very  small  letters." 

"What  name?" 

"  R.  Ranney." 

"  Then,"  said  Manning,  in  excitement,  "  he 
is  the  famous  Dick  Ranney,  formerly  with 
Jesse  James." 

"  I  never  heard  of  him." 

"  He  is  well  known  in  this  Western  coun 
try.  Why,  there  is  a  reward  of  a  thousand 
dollars  offered  for  his  apprehension." 

"  I  should  like  to  earn  that  money,"  said 
Walter. 

"  You  shall,  and  this  very  night,  if  I  can 
bring  it  about." 

"  Half  of  the  reward  should  be  yours." 

"  I  am  rich  enough  without  it.    As  to  the 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      199 

money  the  fellow  robbed  me  of,  I  shall  try  to 
recover  that,  though  the  loss  won't  in  the 
least  embarrass  me." 

"  How  do  you  think  Kanney  will  try  to  get 
into  the  room? ' 

"  Through  the  window.  The  casements  are 
loose,  and  nothing  could  be  easier." 

Walter  went  to  the  window  and  found  that 
there  was  no  way  of  fastening  it. 

"  I  think  we  could  fasten  it  with  a  knife." 

"  I  don't  want  it  fastened,"  said  Manning. 

"Why  not?" 

"  I  want  Mr.  Ranney  to  get  into  the  room. 
Once  in,  we  must  secure  him.  If  we  are 
smart,  our  enterprising  visitor  will  find  him 
self  in  a  trap." 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

THE  EVENTS  OF  A  NIGHT. 

IN  the  country  it  may  safely  be  assumed 
that  by  twelve  o'clock  at  night  every  sound 
and  healthy  person  will  be  asleep.  Dick  Ran 
ney  gave  an  extra  margin  of  half-an-hour,  and 
thirty  minutes  after  midnight  made  his  ap 
pearance  in  the  hotel  yard.  Thanks  to  the  in 
formation  given  by  his  young  messenger, 
Oren  Trott,  who,  of  course,  did  not  know  that 
in  this  way  he  was  assisting  a  dishonest 


2oo     Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

scheme,  he  was  able  at  once  to  fix  upon  the 
windows  of  the  rooms  occupied  by  Walter  and 
the  professor. 

He  decided  to  enter  Walter's  chamber  first, 
partly  because  he  wanted  his  revolver,  which 
would  be  of  service  to  him  in  case  he  were 
attacked.  Then,  again,  he  wanted  the  satis 
faction  of  triumphing  over  the  boy  who  had 
had  the  audacity  to  defy  him — a  full  grown 
man,  and  one  whose  name  had  carried  terror 
to  many  a  traveler. 

There  was  a  long  ladder  leaning  against  the 
stable.  Dick  Kanney  could  not  call  this 
providential  without  insinuating  that  Provi 
dence  was  fighting  on  the  side  cff  the  trans- 
gressoi.',  but  he  called  it,  appropriately,  a 
"  stroke  of  luck,"  as  indeed  it  seemed  at  the 
time. 

He  secured  the  ladder,  and  put  it  up  against 
the  window  of  Walter's  room.  The  window, 
as  he  could  see,  was  partly  open,  it  being  a 
summer  night. 

Dick  Ranney  observed  this  with  a  grim 
smile  of  satisfaction. 

"He  is  making  things  easy  for  me,"  he  said 
to  himself. 

As  softly  and  cautiously  as  a  cat  he  as 
cended  the  ladder,  but  not  softly  enough  to 
escape  the  vigilant  ear  of  Manning,  who  was 
expecting  him. 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      201 

Manning  at  the  sound  stepped  from  the  bod 
— he  had  thrown  himself  on  the  outside  with 
out  undressing — and  stepped  into  a  closet,  as 
he  did  not  wish  Ranney  to  learn  that  there 
were  two  persons  in  the  chamber.  Walter  was 
awake,  but  he  lay  in  bed  motionless  and  with 
his  eyes  closed.  The  revolver  was  in  Man 
ning's  hands,  but  he  had  placed  his  clothing 
temptingly  over  a  chair  between  the  bed  and 
the  window,  but  in  such  a  position  that  his 
companion  on  coming  out  of  the  closet  would 
be  between  the  window  and  the  burglar. 

Dick  Ranney  stood  on  the  ladder  and  looked 
in. 

What  he  saw  reassured  him.  Walter  was 
in  bed,  and  seemed  to  be  fast  asleep. 

"  The  coast  is  clear,"  he  murmured  softly. 
"Now,  where  is  the  revolver?" 

He  could  not  see  it,  but  this  did  not  trouble 
him.  Probably  the  boy  had  it  under  his  pil 
low,  and  in  that  case  he  could  obtain  it  with 
out  trouble.  Meanwhile  it  would  be  well  to 
secure  the  boy's  pocketbook.  Though  he  un 
derrated  Walter's  wealth,  he  thought  he  might 
have  twenty  dollars,  and  this  would  be  worth 
taking. 

He  lifted  the  window  softly  and  entered  the 
room.  In  order  to  deaden  the  sound  of  his 
steps  he  had  taken  off  his  shoes  and  placed 


2O2      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

them  on  the  ground  beside  the  foot  of  the 
ladder. 

Having  entered  the  room,  he  strode  softly 
to  the  chair  over  which  Walter  had  thrown 
his  clothes  and  began  to  feel  in  the  pockets 
of  his  pantaloons.  There  was  a  purse  in  one 
of  the  pockets  which  contained  a  few  small 
silver  coins,  but  it  is  needless  to  say  that  Wal 
ter  had  disposed  of  his  stock  of  bank-bills  else 
where.  He  felt  that  prevention  of  robbery 
was  better  than  the  recovery  of  the  goods 
stolen. 

Meanwrhile  Manning,  whose  hearing  was 
keen,  was  made  aware  through  it  that  the 
burglar  had  entered  the  room.  He  opened  the 
door  of  the  closet,  and  walking  into  the  center 
of  the  apartment,  placed  himself,  revolver  in 
hand,  in  front  of  the  window. 

Though  his  motions  were  gentle,  the  out 
law's  ears  were  quick.  He  turned  swiftly,  and 
with  a  look  of  dismay  realized,  that  he  had 
walked  into  a  trap.  He  had  not  felt  afraid 
to  encounter  a  boy  of  eighteen,  but  here  was 
a  resolute  man,  wrho  had  the  advantage  of  be 
ing  armed,  and  wrell  armed. 

Dick  Ranney  surveyed  him  for  a  minute  in 
silence,  but  wras  very  busily  thinking  what 
were  his  chances  of  escape. 

"  Well,"  said  Manning,  "  we  meet  again ! " 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      ,,03 

"Again?"  repeated  Ranney,  in  a  question* 
ing  tone. 

"  Yes;  when  we  last  met,  you  had  the  drop 
on  me  and  relieved  me  of  my  wallet.  To-night 
I  have  the  drop  on  you." 

Dick  Ranney  paused  for  reflection. 

"  That's  so,"  he  said.  "  Do  you  want  your 
wallet  back?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  Then  we'll  make  a  bargain.  Give  me  that 
revolver,  promise  not  to  raise  the  house,  and 
I  will  give  you  back  your  wallet." 

"  With  all  the  money  inside?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  I  don't  think  I  will,"  said  Manning,  after 
a  pause. 

"  Don't  be  a  fool !  Come,  be  quick,  or  the 
boy  will  wake  up." 

"  He  is  awake  already,"  said  Walter,  rais 
ing  his  head  from  the  pillow. 

"  Were  you  awake  when  I  entered  the 
room?  "  asked  Dick  Ranney  quickly. 

"  Yes." 

"  Fooled  again !  "  exclaimed  Ranney  bit 
terly.  "  Boy,  I  believe  you  are  my  evil  genius. 
Till  I  met  you,  I  thought  myself  a  match  for 
any  one." 

"  You  were  more  than  a  match  for  me,"  said 
Manning,  "  but  he  wins  best  who  wins  last.'1 


2O4      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

"  Well,  what  do  you  mean  to  do? "  asked 
Ranney  doggedly. 

"  To  capture  you,  Dick  Ranney,  and  hand 
you  over  to  the  law  whicli  you  have  so  persist 
ently  violated." 

"  That  you  will  never  do,"  said  Ranney, 
and  he  dashed  toward  the  window,  thrusting 
Manning  to  one  side. 

But  what  he  saw  increased  Irs  dismay. 
The  ladder  had  been  removed,  and  if  he  would 
leave  the  room  he  must  leap  to  the  ground,  a 
distance  of  over  twenty  feet. 

"  Confusion !  "  he  exclaimed.  "  The  lad 
der  is  gone ! " 

"  Yes,  I  directed  the  stable-boy  to  keep 
awake  and  remove  it,"  explained  Manning. 

"  I  may  be  taken,  but  I  will  be  revenged 
first!"  shouted  Dick  Kanney,  and  he  flung 
himself  on  Manning,  who,  unprepared  for  the 
sudden  attack,  sank  to  the  floor  with  Ranney 
on  top.  But  the  outlaw's  triumph  was  short 
lived.  Walter  sprang  to  Manning's  rescue, 
seized  the  revolver,  and,  aiming  it  at  the 
burglar,  cried  quickly : 

"  Get  up,  or  I'll  fire !  " 

Dick  Ranney  rose  sullenly.  He  paid  Wal 
ter  the  compliment  of  believing  he  meant  what 
he  said. 

"  It's  your  turn,  boy,"  he  muttered. 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      205 

"Stay  where  you  are!"  ordered  Walter, 
and  he  walked  slowly  backward,  still  covering 
the  robber  with  the  revolver,  till  he  reached 
the  door  opening  into  the  entry. 

Dick  Ranney  watched  him  closely,  and  did 
not  offer  any  opposition,  for  it  occurred  to 
him  that  the  opening  of  the  door  would  afford 
him  a  better  chance  for  flight. 

No  sooner,  therefore,  was  the  door  open 
than  he  prepared  to  avail  himself  of  the  op 
portunity,  running  the  risk  of  a  bullet  wound 
when  his  plans  were  frustrated  by  the  en 
trance  of  two  village  constables — strong, 
sturdy  men. 

"  Dick  Ranney,  do  you  surrender?  "  asked 
Walter  in  a  clear,  resolute  tone. 

Ranney  looked  slowly  from  one  to  the  other, 
and  calculated  the  chances.  The  ladder  was 
gone,  and  he  found  himself  facing  four  foes. 
three  of  them  strong  men,  some  of  them 
armed. 

"  It's  all  up  with  me! "  he  said  quietly.  "  I 
surrender." 

"  You  do  wisely,"  remarked  Manning. 
"  Now,  will  you  restore  my  wallet?  " 

The  outlaw  took  it  out  of  his  pocket  and 
handed  it  over. 

"  There  it  is,"  lie  said.  "  I  suppose  yon 
won't  ask  me  to  pay  interest  for  the  use  of 
the  money?" 


206      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

The  two  constables  advanced,  and  one  of 
them  took  out  a  pair  of  handcuffs. 

"Hold  out  your  hands!"  he  said. 

The  burglar  did  so.  He  saw  that  opposition 
would  not  benefit  him,  and  he  yielded  to  the 
inevitable  with  a  good  grace. 

"  It  seems  I  walked  into  a  trap,"  he  said. 
"  If  you  don't  mind  telling  me,  were  you  ex 
pecting  me?  " 

"  Yes,"  answered  Walter. 

"Did  the  boy  betray  me?"  he  asked 
quickly. 

"  No;  the  boy  suspected  nothing  wrong,  but 
his  questions  excited  suspicion." 

"  Dick  Ranney,"  said  the  outlaw,  apostro 
phizing  himself,  "you're  a  fool!  I  should 
like  to  kick  you!  " 

"  I  think  you  ware  imprudent,  Mr.  Ranney," 
said  Manning. 

"  It  was  this1  revolver  that  undid  me,"  said 
Ranney.  "  I  wanted  to  recover  it,  for  it  was 
given  me  by  my  old  captain.  It  was  never  out 
of  my  possession  till  that  boy  snatched  it  from 
me.  I  suppose  it  was  to  be,"  and  he  sighed, 
comforted,  perhaps,  by  the  thought  that  it 
would  have  been  useless  to  struggle  against 
fate. 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      207 
CHAPTER  XXVII. 

WALTER  BECOMES  A  CAPITALIST. 

PROFESSOR  ROBINSON  slumbered  on,  bliss 
fully  unconscious  of  the  events  that  had  made 
the  night  an  exciting  one.  When  he  came 
down-stairs  early  in  the  morning  he  strayed 
accidently  into  the  room  where  Dick  Ranney 
was  confined  under  guard.  Being  short 
sighted,  he  did  not  see  the  captive  until  Ran- 
ney  hailed  him. 

"  Good  morning,  professor !  " 

The  professor  skipped  nimbly  back  and 
gazed  at  the  prisoner  in  alarm. 

"  You  here?  "  he  exclaimed. 

"  Yes,"  answered  Dick  grimly. 

"  But  how  did  it  happen?  " 

"  I  came  to  the  hotel  a  little  after  midnight 
to  make  you  a  call,  but  went  first  to  the  room 
of  your  assistant." 

"  What,  after  midnight?  " 

"  Yes.  It  is  hardly  necessary  to  explain 
what  happened.  Here  I  am !  " 

"  Ah,  my  friend !  "  said  the  professor,  "  this 
may  be  fortunate  for  you  if  it  leads  you  to 
consider  and  reflect  upon  the  errors  of  your 
life." 

"  Oh,  stop  that!  "  exclaimed  Ranney,  in  dis 
gust.  "  I'm  not  that  kind  of  a  man.  I  follow 
my  own  course  and  take  the  consequences." 


2o8      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

The  professor  shook  his  head  sadly  and 
went  out.  Later,  when  he  heard  what  had 
happened,  he  said  to  Walter :  "  If  that  man 
had  come  into  my  room  at  midnight  I  should 
have  died  of  fright." 

"  There  was  no  occasion  lo  be  alarmed,"  re 
turned  Walter.  "  We  were  prepared  for  him." 

"  I — I  am  afraid  I  was  never  cut  out  for  a 
hero,"  said  the  professor.  "  My  nervous  sys 
tem  is  easily  upset." 

The  plain  truth  was  that  Professor  Robin 
son  was  a  born  coward,  though  he  was 
stronger  and  more  muscular  probably  than 
Grant,  Sherman,  or  Sheridan.  But  it  is  not 
brawn  and  muscle  that  make  a  hero,  but  the 
spirit  that  animates  the  man,  and  of  this  spirit 
the  professor  had  very  little.  Yet  in  after 
years,  when  he  had  retired  from  business  and 
was  at  leisure  to  live  over  again  his  past  life, 
he  used  to  tell  with  thrilling  effect  how  he  and 
Walter  had  trapped  and  captured  the  daring 
outlaw,  Dick  Ranney,  and  received  admiring 
compliments  upon  his  courage  and  prowess, 
which  he  complacently  accepted,  though  he 
knew  how  little  he  deserved  them. 

It  so  chanced  that  Stilwell  was  the  county 
seat  and  court  was  in  session  at  that  time,  and 
nearly  ready  to  wind  up  its  business.  It  was 
owing  to  this  circumstance  that  the  trial  of 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      209 

Dick  Ranney  was  held  at  once.  By  request, 
Walter  and  the  professor  remained  to  bear 
testimony  against  the  prisoner,  and  Manning 
also  strengthened  the  case  against  him.  With 
in  less  than  a  week  the  trial  was  concluded,  a 
verdict  of  guilty  was  brought  in,  and  the  pris 
oner  sentenced  to  a  ten  years'  term  of  im 
prisonment. 

Dick  Ranney  heard  the  sentence  with  philo 
sophical  calmness. 

"  My  good  friend,"  said  the  professor,  "  I 
trust  that  in  your  long  years  of  confinement 
you  will  reflect  upon " 

"  Don't  worry  about  that,"  interrupted 
Dick.  "  I  sha'n't  be  in  prison  three  months." 

"  But  I  thought " 

"  Bolts  and  bars  can  be  broken,  professor. 
When  I  do  get  out  I  will  inquire  what  part  of 
the  country  you  are  in  and  will  make  you  a 
visit." 

This  promise,  so  far  from  cheering  Profes 
sor  Robinson,  seemed  to  disconcert  him  ex 
tremely,  and  he  shortened  his  talk  with  his 
road  acquaintance. 

After  the  trial  was  over  Walter  was*  waited 
upon  by  an  official,  who  tendered  him  the  re 
ward  of  one  thousand  dollars  offered  for  the 
capture  of  Dick  Ranney. 

"  Mr.  Manning  has  waived  his  claim  in  your 


2io      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

favor,"  explained  the  official,  "  and  therefore 
there  is  no  question  that  to  you  belongs  the 
reward." 

"  There  are  two  others  whose  services  de 
serve  recognition,"  said  Walter;  "  the  two  con 
stables  who  made  the  arrest." 

"  There  is  no  additional  sum  at  our  com 
mand,"  explained  the  official. 

"  None  is  needed,"  returned  Walter.  "  I 
shall  pay  each  a  hundred  dollars  out  of  the 
reward  which  has  been  awarded  to  me." 

It  is  needless  to  say  that  the  two  constables, 
both  of  whom  were  poor  men  with  large  fam 
ilies,  were  very  grateful  for  this  substantial 
recognition  of  their  services. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

WALTER  GOES  OUT  OF  BUSINESS. 

BY  the  time  Walter  received  his  prize  of 
eight  hundred  dollars  he  had  saved  enough  out 
of  his  wages  to  make  nearly  a  thousand.  He 
reflected  with  pride  that  this  money  had  not 
been  left  him,  but  was  the  fruit  of  his  own  ex 
ertions.  He  resolved  to  say  nothing  in  his 
letters  home  of  his  good  fortune,  but  wait  till 
he  returned,  when  he  would  have  the  pleasure 
of  taking  his  guardian  by  surprise. 

A  day  later  he  received  a  letter  from  Doc 
tor  Mack,  which  had  been  forwarded  from  one 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      211 

place  to  another,  and  was  now  nearly  three 
weeks  old. 

It  ran  thus: 

"  DEAR  WALTER  :  You  give  but  scanty  in 
telligence  of  your  progress  and  success,  or 
want  of  it.  I  respect  you  for  your  determina 
tion  to  support  yourself,  but  I  don't  want  you 
to  carry  your  independence  too  far.  As  you 
have  never  fitted  yourself  for  any  kind  of  busi 
ness,  I  presume  your  earnings  are  small.  I 
should  not  be  surprised  to  hear  that  you  are 
straitened  for  money.  If  you  are,  don't  let 
your  pride  prevent  your  informing  me.  I  can 
easily  send  you  fifty  dollars,  for  your  property 
was  not  all  lost,  and  it  is  not  fitting  that  you 
should  deprive  yourself  of  the  comforts  of  life 
when  there  is  no  occasion  for  it. 

"  Nancy  often  speaks  of  you,  and  indeed  I 
may  say  that  we  both  miss  you  very  much, 
and  wish  the  year  were  up,  so  that  you  might 
return  to  us.  I  have  hopes  of  righting  your 
property,  so  that  you  may  go  back  to  Euclid 
College  at  the  beginning  of  the  fall  session.  I 
am  glad  to  learn  by  your  last  letter  that  your 
health  is  excellent.  Once  more,  don't  hesitate 
to  write  to  me  for  money  if  you  need  a  remit 
tance. 

"  Your  affectionate  guardian, 

"  EZEKIKL  MACK," 


212      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

Walter  smiled  as  he  finished  reading  the 
letter. 

"  I  wonder  what  my  good  guardian  would 
say,"  he  soliloquized,  "  if  he  knew  that  I  had 
nearly  a  thousand  dollars  saved  up.  He 
would  open  his  eyes,  I  fancy." 

He  sat  down  at  once  and  made  a  reply,  in 
the  course  of  which  he  said:  "  Don't  trouble 
yourself  to  send  me  money.  I  can  get  along 
with  the  wages  I  receive.  When  I  left  home 
I  made  up  my  mind  not  to  call  upon  you  for 
help,  and  I  am  glad  to  say  there  is  no  occasion 
to  do  so  as  yet.  I  think  my  year's  absence 
from  college  will  do  me  good.  I  am  ashamed 
when  I  consider  how  poorly  I  appreciated  the 
advantages  of  study,  and  how  foolishly  I  spent 
my  time  and  money.  If  I  ever  go  back  to  col 
lege  I  shall  turn  over  a  new  leaf.  I  have  seen 
something  of  the  world,  and  gained  some  ex 
perience  of  life,  and  feel  about  half-a-dozen 
years  older  than  when  I  left  college." 

When  Doctor  Mack,  a  week  later,  read  these 
lines  he  smiled  contentedly. 

"  My  experiment  is  working  well,"  he  said. 
"  It  is  making  a  man  of  Walter.  He  has  been 
a  drone,  hitherto.  Now  he  has  become  a 
worker,  and,  though  I  may  not  like  him  better, 
for  he  was  always  near  to  my  heart,  I  respect 
him  more," 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      213 

A  week  later  Walter,  on  returning  from  a 
walk,  found  a  middle-aged  stranger  in  conver 
sation  with  Professor  Robinson. 

The  professor  seemed  a  little  embarrassed 
when  Walter  entered. 

"  I  have  some  news  for  you,  Walter,"  he 
said.  "  I  am  afraid  it  will  not  be  welcome  to 
you." 

"  Please  let  me  hear  it,  professor,"  said 
Walter. 

"  This  gentleman  is  Nahum  Snodgrass,  of 
Chicago,  who  has  been  for  some  years  a  trav 
eler  for  a  large  wholesale  drug-house." 

"  I  am  glad  to  meet  you,  Mr.  Snodgrass," 
said  Walter  politely. 

Snodgrass,  who  was  a  thin,  dry-looking 
man,  nodded  briefly. 

"  I  have  just  sold  out  my  business  to  him," 
went  on  Professor  Eobinson,  "  and  henceforth 
shall  aim  to  live  more  easily  and  enjoy  the 
presence  of  my  family." 

"  I  congratulate  you,  professor,"  said  Wal 
ter.  "  I  think  you  deserve  a  life  of  leisure." 

"  Mr.  Snodgrass  is  willing  to  take  you  into 
his  employ,  but  he  does  not  think  he  can  af 
ford  to  pay  you  as  much  as  I  did." 

"  No,"  said  Snodgrass,  clearing  his  throat, 
"  I  find  that  Professor  Robinson  has  been 
foolishly  liberal.  The  ten  per  cent,  commis- 


214      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

sion  which  he  has  paid  you  is  simply — stu — 
pen — dous !  " 

Walter  smiled. 

"  I  have  not  been  in  the  habit  of  taking  that 
view  of  it,"  he  said. 

"  Perhaps  not,  but  I  do,"  said  Snodgrass 
firmly.  "  You  are  a  very  young  man,  and 
ought  not  to  expect  much  pay.  I  will  give 
you  two  dollars  a  week  and  pay  your  travel 
ing  expenses." 

"  I  beg  to  decline  your  offer,  Mr.  Snod 
grass,"  said  Walter  politely.  "  I  have 
thought  of  changing  my  business  before,  but 
was  unwilling  to  leave  the  professor.  As  we 
are  strangers,  I  need  have  no  further  hesita 
tion." 

"  Young  man,"  said  Snodgrass,  "  I  think 
you  are  making  a  mistake.  It  will  not  be  so 
easy  getting  another  place  as  you  suppose." 

"  Perhaps  not,  but  I  can  afford  to  live  a  few 
weeks  without  work." 

"  Your  savings  will  soon  go," — Snodgrass 
knew  nothing  of  Walter's  prize  money — "  and 
then  what  will  you  do?" 

"  Trust  to  luck,"  answered  Walter  lightly. 

Nahum  Snodgrass  shook  his  head  gloomily. 
He  thought  Walter  a  very  foolish  young  man. 

Had  Walter  lost  his  position  two  months 
earlier  it  would  have  been  a  serious  matter  to 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      215 

him,  but  now,  with  a  capital  of  nearly  a  thou 
sand  dollars,  he  could  afford  to  be  independ 
ent.  As  he  expressed  it,  he  could  afford  to  be 
idle  for  a  few  weeks.  Still,  he  didn't  wish  to 
remain  unemployed  for  a  long  time.  He  felt 
happier  when  at  work,  but  wished  to  secure 
some  employment  that  would  be  congenial. 

"  Mr.  Snodgrass,"  said  the  professor,  "  I 
think  you  are  making  a  mistake  in  not  employ 
ing  Walter  Sherwood." 

Nahum  Snodgrass  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"  I  don't  mean  to  pay  away  all  my  profits 
to  an  assistant,"  he  said. 

"  But  you  can't  get  along  alone  very  well." 

"  I  will  try,  unless  I  can  find  some  one  that 
will  take  what  I  am  willing  to  pay." 

He  finally  succeeded  in  doing  this1.  A 
young  man  of  eighteen,  employed  in  a  drug 
store  in  town,  who  was  on  the  point  of  being 
discharged,  agreed  to  take  the  position,  and 
stepped  into  Walter's  place.  To  anticipate 
a  little,  he  disappeared  two  weeks  later,  car 
rying  with  him  fifty  dollars  belonging  to  his 
employer. 

Walter  stayed  two  days  longer  at  the  hotel, 
and  then,  sending  his  valise  ahead  to  Burn- 
ton,  twenty  miles  farther  on,  started  to  walk 
the  distance.  He  was  in  a  mountainous 
country,  and  the  scenery  was  wild  and  attract- 


2 1 6      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

ive,  so  that  he  felt  that  this  arrangement 
would  prove  agreeable  to  him.  He  provided 
himself  with  a  stout  staff,  and  started  at  good 
speed.  He  had  accomplished  about  eight 
miles,  when  he  was  overtaken  by  a  shabbily 
dressed  traveler  riding  on  the  back  of  a  fine 
horse.  The  horseman  slackened  his  pace 
when  he  reached  Walter. 

"  Good  morning,  stranger !  "  he  said. 

"Good  morning!"  responded  Walter,  turn 
ing  his  head. 

"  I  am  glad  to  have  company.  It's  a  lone 
some  stretch  of  road  here." 

"  Yes,"  answered  Walter  carelessly.  "  But 
there  isn't  any  danger,  is  there?  " 

"  Well,  there  might  be.  A  friend  of  mine 
was  stabbed  and  robbed  here  three  months 
since." 

"  Indeed ! " 

"Yes;  and  though  I  haven't  much  money 
with  me,  I  shouldn't  like  to  be  robbed  of  what 
I  have." 

"  It  would  be  inconvenient." 

"Do  you  carry  much  money  with  you?" 
asked  the  other  in  a  careless  tone. 

Walter  was  not  disposed  to  take  a  stranger 
into  his  confidence. 

"  Not  much  !  "  he  responded. 

"You  are  prudent.     Are  you  armed?" 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      217 

Walter  drew  out  Dick  Ranney's  revolver, 
which  be  still  carried.  The  stranger  eyed  him 
respectfully. 

"  That's  a  mighty  handsome  weapon,"  he 
said.  "  Just  let  me  look  at  it." 

Walter  began  to  think  he  had  fallen  in  with 
a  highwayman  again. 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 

WALTER  BUYS  A  HORSE. 

'*  You  can  look  at  the  pistol  as  I  hold  it," 
said  Walter,  in  response  to  the  request  re 
corded  at  the  close  of  the  preceding  chapter. 

"  No  offense,  stranger !  You  are  right  to  be 
keerful,  seein'  as  you  don't  know  me.  I'm 
timid  myself,  though  I'm  ashamed  to  say  it." 

"  I  am  not  timid,  but  I  prefer  to  keep  my 
revolver  in  my  own  hands." 

"  Sartain,  stranger;  you're  right  every  time. 
I'd  like  a  revolver  like  that,  but  I'm  a  poor 
man,  and  couldn't  afford  to  buy  it.  How 
much  inought  you  have  paid  for  it?" 

"  I  got  it  second-hand,"  said  Walter  briefly, 
"  and  the  price  would  be  no  guide  to  you." 

"  I  say,"  remarked  the  stranger  suddenly, 
"  don't  you  want  to  buy  a  horse?  " 

"  Meaning  the  horse  you  are  riding?  "  in 
quired  Walter. 

«  Yes." 


218      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

Walter  looked  at  the  animal.  It  was  a 
beautiful  creature,  and  he  felt  that  he  should 
indeed  like  to  be  the  owner.  He  was  fond  of 
horses,  and  was  a  good  rider. 

"  How  much  do  you  ask  for  the  horse?  "  he 
inquired. 

"  I'll  take  a  hundred  dollars  for  her." 

This  was  a  low  price  for  so  fine  an  animal, 
and  Walter  said  so. 

"  But,"  he  continued,  "  it  wouldn't  pay  me 
to  buy  her.  If  I  were  living  at  home  it  would 
be  different." 

"  You  see  I'm  in  a  tight  place,"  pleaded  the 
horseman.  "  I  haven't  got  five  dollars  to  my 
name,  and  I  can't  afford  to  keep  the  horse." 

"  That's  bad ! "  said  Walter,  in  a  tone  of 
sympathy. 

"  You  see,  as  long  as  I  keep  her  I've  to 
board  her  as  well  as  myself.  I'll  tell  you 
what  I'll  do.  I'll  let  you  have  her  for  seventy- 
five  dollars.  That's  a  bargain  for  you." 

Walter  shook  his  head. 

"  I  don't  care  to  invest  seventy-five  dollars 
in  a  horse,"  he  said.  "  You'd  better  keep  on 
to  the  nearest  town,  and  you  can  get  more  for 
her." 

"  I  might,  but  I  want  to  get  her  off  my 
hands.  Come,  I'll  make  you  a  final  offer. 
Give  me  fifty  dollars,  and  she's  yours," 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      219 

"  But  this  would  be  robbing  you,"  objected 
Walter. 

"  Not  if  I  agree  to  it."  returned  the  stranger. 
"  You'll  be  doing  me  a  favor,  besides,  for  my 
old  mother  is  sick,  and  I  want  to  get  to  her  as 
quick  as  I  can." 

Walter  was  very  strongly  tempted.  He 
felt  that  fifty  dollars  would  be  a  ridiculously 
low  price  for  such  a  fine  animal.  He  didn't 
like  to  take  advantage  of  the  necessities  of  the 
stranger,  but,  as  the  latter  represented  that 
the  purchase  would  be  a  favor  to  him,  his  scru 
ples  seemed  unnecessary. 

"I  slill  think  you  had  better  ride  on  to  the 
next  town  and  sell  your  horse  for  a  better 
price,"  he  felt  constrained  to  say. 

"  That's  my  lookout,"  said  the  newcomer. 
"  Ready  money's  what  I  need  now." 

"  In  that  case  I  will  give  you  the  price  you 
ask.  But  I  shall  want  you  to  give  me  a  bill 
of  sale." 

"  I've  got  no  paper  nor  ink." 

"  I  have  some  paper  and  a  fountain  pen," 
said  Walter. 

"  What's  the  odds?  I  give  you  the  horse, 
and  you  give  me  the  money." 

"  I  would  prefer  to  have  a  record  of  the 
sale.  It  won't  take  me  a  minute." 

Walter  had  a  pad  in  his  satchel  and  a  foun- 


.220      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

tain  pen  in  his  pocket.  He  hastily  wrote  out 
the  following  form : 

"  In  consideration  of  fifty  dollars  by  me 
received,  I  give  and  transfer  to  Walter  Sher 
wood  my  roan  horse."  Here  followed  a  brief 
description  of  the  animal. 

"  Xow  put  your  name  there,  and  I  will  hand 
you  the  money,"  sai(^  Walter. 

The  stranger  took  the  pen,  and  with  some 
difficulty — for  he  did  not  appear  to  be  much  of 
a  scholar — signed  to  the  document  the  name 
of  Hank  Wilson. 

"All  right!"  said  Walter,  pocketing  the 
paper ;  "  here  is  your  money." 

He  drew  out  from  his  wallet  five  ten-dollar 
bills  and  handed  them  to  his  companion. 

"  Thank  you,  stranger !  You've  got  a  good 
bargain." 

"  I  agree  to  that,"  said  Walter. 

"  That  there  animal  is  well  worth  twice  as 
much  as  you  gave  for  her." 

"  I  agree  to  that  too.  If  you  are  tired  of 
the  bargain  I'll  give  her  back  to  you  for  the 
money." 

"No,  no;  I  need  the  money,  and  I  need  it 
bad.  Take  it,  and  I  wish  you  joy  of  your 
bargain." 

There  was  something  in  the  stranger's  tone 
that  gave  birth  to  suspicion  in  Walter's  mind. 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      221 

Was  there  anything  underhand  or  tricky  in 
the  transaction,  and  was  there  any  special  rea 
son  for  the  stranger  parting  with  his  horse  for 
such  a  low  price? 

"  I  suppose  the  horse  is  sound?  "  he  said  in 
quiringly. 

"  Sound  as  a  die!  Don't  you  take  no  trou 
ble  about  that.  It  goes  to  my  heart  to  give 
her  up.  Good-by,  old  gal !  " 

He  stroked  the  horse,  looking  into  her  eyes 
as  he  did  so,  but  the  animal  seemed  impatient 
of  the  caress,  and  evidently  had  no  affection 
for  her  late  owner. 

"How  long  have  you  owned  the  horse? " 
asked  Walter,  rather  surprised  at  this1. 

"  About  a  year." 

"  She  don't  seem  to  show  much  affection 
for  you." 

"  She's  queer,  and  kind  of  contrary  some 
times.  But  I  won't  keep  you  waitin'  here. 
Good-by,  stranger ! " 

"  Good-by ! " 

Walter  touched  the  horse  lightly  with  his 
whip,  and  she  bounded  forward.  Enjoying 
rapid  motion,  he  did  not  try  to  check  her,  but 
let  her  have  her  head.  After  a  few  miles  he 
reached  a  town  of  good  size.  Riding  along 
the  main  street  his1  attention  was  drawn  to 
a  printed  notice  in  front  of  a  store.  Jt  read 
thus: 


222      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

"HORSE    STOLEN! 

"  Stolen  from  the  subscriber,  on  the  evening 
of  the  twenty-fifth,  a  roan  inare,  eight  years 
old  and  sixteen  hands  high,  with  a  white  mark 
between  the  eyes.  Answers  to  the  name  of 
Bess.  Whoever  will  return  her  to  the  sub 
scriber,  or  give  information  that  will  lead  to 
her  recovery,  will  receive  a  suitable  reward. 
"  COLONEL  RICHARD  OWEN, 

"  Shelby." 

A  terrible  suspicion  entered  Walter's  mind, 
he  leaned  over  and  recognized  the  white  mark. 
Then  he  called  "  Bess."  The  mare  half  turned 
her  head  and  whinnied. 

A  cold  perspiration  gathered  on  Walter's 
brow.  It  was  clear  that  he  was  in  possession 
of  stolen  property. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

WALTER  FINDS  HIMSELF  IN  A  TIGHT  PLACE. 

WALTER  had  hardly  time  to  consider  what 
to  do  in  the  light  of  the  discovery  he  had  made 
before  the  matter  was  taken  out  of  his  hands. 

"  Young  feller,  you'd  better  get  off  that 
hoss! "  fell  on  his  ears  in  a  rough  voice. 

He  turned,  and  saw  two  stalwart  men  eying 
him  suspiciously.  They  did  not  appear  to  be 
officers,  but  were  probably  residents  of  the  vil- 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      223 

lage.  Walter  knew  of  what  he  was  suspected, 
and  he  flushed  painfully. 

"What  do  you  mean?"  he  ejaculated,  not 
thinking  of  anything  else  to  say. 

"  You  know  what  I  mean,"  was  the  signifi 
cant  reply.  "  I  say,  young  feller,  you've  got 
cheek — eh,  Penton?" 

"  I  should  say  he  had,"  returned  the  other. 
"  Ridin'  up  as  peart  as  can  be  and  readin'  the 
advertisement  of  the  stolen  hoss." 

"  Gentlemen,"  said  Walter  earnestly,  "  till 
I  read  this  notice  I  had  no  idea  that  the  horse 
was  stolen." 

"  Of  course  not ! "  said  the  first  speaker 
ironically.  "You  look  innocent." 

"  I  have  done  no  wrong,  and  I  am  no  thief," 
returned  Walter  proudly. 

"  I  s'pose  you  own  that  hoss !  " 

"  I  thought  I  did  till  just  now." 

"  How  did  you  come  by  her?  "  asked  Pen- 
ton,  with  an  incredulous  smile. 

"  I  bought  her  this  very  day." 

"  Ho,  ho !  You  bought  her  of  Colonel  Owen, 
I  reckon?  " 

"  No,  I  didn't.  I  bought  her  of  a  man  who 
called  himself  Hank  Wilson." 

"  And  how  much  did  you  give  for  her?  " 

"  Fifty  dollars." 

"  Fifty  dollars  for  a  hoss  the  colonel  paid 


224      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

five  hundred  for!  Look  here,  young  fellow, 
that's  too  thin." 

"  It  is  the  truth/'  answered  Walter  firmly. 
"  Of  course  I  knew  she  was  worth  much  more 
than  fifty  dollars,  but  I  didn't  think  she  was  as 
valuable  as  you  say." 

"  Why,  that  hoss  can  make  a  mile  in  2 :25. 
She  did  it  at  the  last  county  fair.  The  colonel 
wouldn't  have  taken  five  hundred,  nor  six  hun 
dred,  for  her.  And  you  bought  her  for  fifty 
dollars ! " 

"  I  did,  on  my  honor,"  said  Walter.  "  I  sup 
pose  the  thief  didn't  dare  to  take  her  where  he 
could  get  a  good  price  for  her." 

"  That's  neither  here  nor  there.  You'd  bet 
ter  get  off  the  hoss." 

Walter  felt  that  this1  was  a  command,  and 
obeyed  at  once.  It  seemed  clear  to  him  that 
his  road  acquaintance  had  taken  advantage  of 
him,  and  that  the  fifty  dollars  invested  in  the 
horse  would  prove  a  total  loss.  In  his  present 
circumstances  this,  however,  wouldn't  prove 
serious. 

"  Very  well,  gentlemen,"  he  said.  "  I  will 
leave  the  horse  in  your  hands  and  depend  upon 
you  to  return  it  to  the  owner." 

As  Walter  spoke  he  turned  to  walk  off,  but 
the  man  who  had  first  accosted  him  got  in  his 
way. 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.     225 

"  Where  are  you  going?  "  he  asked. 

"  I  haven't  made  up  my  mind,"  answered 
Walter. 

"  You  don't  expect  to  get  out  of  town  so 
easy?  " 

"Why  not?"  returned  Walter  appre 
hensively. 

"Why  not?  Because  you're  a  hoss  thief! 
That's  why." 

"  That's  a  lie!  "  retorted  Walter. 

"  You'd  better  be  keerful  what  you  say, 
young  feller,  for  Crane  don't  stand  no  back 
talk." 

"  I  don't  want  to  have  any  trouble  with  you, 
sir.  Please  get  out  of  my  way,  and  let  me  go." 

"  Not  by  a  long  shot." 

"  What  do  you  propose  to  do  with  me?  " 

"  Take  you  to  the  lockup." 

Walter  was  now  really  alarmed.  To  find 
himself  treated  like  a  criminal  was  a  groat 
shock  to  him,  and  he  felt  humiliated,  in  spite 
of  his  consciousness  of  innocence." 

"  Listen,  Mr.  Crane,"  he  said.  "  I  am  no 
more  a  thief  than  you  are." 

"  Don't  you  dare  to  call  me  a  thief!  "  ~said 
Crane  hotly. 

"I  don't;  you  persist  in  misunderstanding 
me.  I  am  honost,  as  I  am  sure  you  are." 

"  Looks  like  it !  "  interjected  Penton.  "  Rid- 
in'  up  on  a  stolen  hoss !  " 


226      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

"  If  I  had  stolen  the  horse  I  should  keep  out 
of  the  way.  I  wouldn't  ride  up  and  read  the 
advertisement  as  coolly  as  I  did.  You  must 
see  that  for  yourself." 

"  There's  somethin'  in  that,  Crane,"  said 
Penton,  turning  to  his  companion. 

Crane  shook  his  head. 

"  Don't  you  be  taken  in  by  his  soft  words, 
Penton,"  he  said.  "  It's  one  of  his  tricks." 

"  Like  enough  it  is." 

"  You'll  have  to  go  with  us,  young  feller ! ;? 
said  Crane. 

"  And  leave  the  hoss? "  asked  Penton. 
"  We'd  ought  to  take  charge  of  it,  and  get  the 
reward." 

"  That's  so,  Penton.  You  go  and  get  a  con 
stable.  We'll  stand  by  the  hoss." 

Penton  hurried  off,  and  returned  shortly 
with  a  constable  in  uniform. 

"  What's  up?  "  he  asked. 

"  This1  young  feller's  rid  in  town  with  Col 
onel  Richard  Owen's  hoss." 

"  You  don't  mean  it?    Is  that  the  hoss?  " 

"  Of  course  it  is.  Look  for  yourself.  Col 
or's  all  right,  and  there's  the  white  mark  on 
the  forehead." 

"  So  it  is,  I  vum." 

"  You  just  take  him  along  to  the  lockup, 
and " 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      227 

"  But  I'd  ought  io  secure  the  hoss,"  said  the 
constable,  who  felt  that  perhaps  he  might  be 
entitled  to  the  reward  offered. 

"  Don't  you  trouble  yourself  about  the  hoss; 
I  will  take  care  of  her.  Just  take  the  thief  to 
the  lockup." 

"  Look  here,"  eaid  the  constable;  "  if  there's 
a  reward,  I  must  have  my  share.*' 

"  What  have  you  done,  I  should  like  to 
know?  "  demanded  Crane.  "  What  would  you 
have  known  about  the  hoss  if  Penton  hadn't 
called  you  in?  " 

"  It's  my  duty  as  an  officer  of  the  law  to  take 
possession  of  the  stolen  property,"  said  the 
constable  doggedly.  "  You're  only  private  in 
dividuals.  You  ain't  got  no  authority." 

"  Look  here,  Cyrus  Stokes,  you  secure  the 
thief — that's  your  lookout." 

"  Gentlemen,"  said  Walter,  "  I  object  to  be 
ing  called  a  thief.  I  have  already  told  you  I 
did  not  steal  the  horse." 

"  Of  course  you  said  so.  They  always  do — 
eh,  Cyrus?  " 

"  Of  course !  "  echoed  the  constable. 

"  You'd  better  lock  him  up  before  lie  gets  a 
chance  to  escape,  constable.  He's  a  smart 
one ! " 

"  But  I'm  afraid  yon  won't  treat  me  right 
about  the  hoss,"  objected  the  guardian  of  the 
peace, 


228      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

"We'll  stay  here  with  her,"  said  Cr;m<>. 
"  Just  you  lock  up  the  thief !  Have  you  got  a 
pair  of  handcuffs  with  you?" 

"  No;  but  I  can  get  some.'' 

"  Constable,"  put  in  Walter  hastily,  alarmed 
at  this  suggestion,  "  I  will  give  my  word  not 
to  attempt  to  get  away.  You  won't  need  hand 
cuffs." 

"  I  dunno  I  "  said  the  constable  dubiously. 

"  I  give  you  my  promise.  Besides,  if  I 
did,  you  are  able  to  master  me." 

The  constable  was  a  big  man,  four  inches 
taller  and  forty  pounds  heavier  than  Walter, 
and  this  seemed  to  him  reasonable. 

"  Come  along,  then !  "  he  said.  "  Look  here, 
Crane,  you  just  stay  here  with  the  hoss." 

"  Don't  be  worried.    We'll  stay." 

The  constable  seized  Walter  by  the  arm  and 
walked  off  with  him.  Poor  Walter's  face 
burned  like  fire,  and  he  wished  he  could  sink 
into  the  earth.  He  had  done  nothing  to  be 
ashamed  of,  but  those  who  saw  him  in  custody 
would  hardly  believe  this.  To  add  to  his  mor 
tification,  people  whom  they  met  on  the  street 
looked  at  him  curiously.  Among  them  was  the 
editor  of  the  village  paper,  who  was  out  search 
ing  for  items. 

"Whom  have  you  there,  Mr.  Stokes?"  he 
asked,  taking  out  his  note-book. 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      229 

"  I  don't  know  his  name,  but  he's  the  fellow 
that  stole  Colonel  Owen's  hoss.  Just  rid  into 
town  with  her." 

"  You  don't  say  so?  It  was  a  smart  capture 
on  your  part,  Stokes." 

"  I  generally  do  my  duty,"  said  the  consta 
ble  complacently. 

"  What's  your  name,  young  man,  "  inquired 
the  editor,  opening  his  note-book. 

"  I  would  prefer  not  to  answer  that  question 
at  present,"  replied  Walter.  "  I  don't  care  to 
have  my  name  connected  with  a  robbery  of 
which  I  am  innocent." 

"  What  proof  have  you  that  this  young  man 
stole  the  horse?  "  asked  the  editor,  upon  whom 
Walter's  appearance  had  produced  a  favorable 
impression.  "  He  doesn't  look  like  a  thief." 

"  Rid  into  town  on  the  identical  hoss,  as 
bold  as  brass ! "  answered  the  constable. 

"  Looks  bad,  that's  a  fact !  " 

"  I  bought  the  horse  of  a  man  I  met  on  the 
road,"  explained  Walter.  "  I  was  a  fool  to  do 
it — I  can  see  that  now,  but  I  had  no  more  to 
do  with  stealing  her  than  either  of  you." 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

IN  THE  LOCKUP. 

THE  lockup  was  a  basement  room  under  the 
engine-house.     It  was  here  that  Walter  was 


230      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

taken.  The  entrance  was  at  the  rear.  There 
were  four  cells,  about  four  feet  by  eight,  and 
into  one  of  these  Walter  was  put.  The  cell 
opposite  was  occupied  by  a  drunken  tramp, 
who  looked  up  stupidly  as  Walter  entered,  and 
hiccoughed :  "  Glad  to  see  you,  sonny?  You 
been  on  a  spree,  too?  " 

Walter  turned  from  him  in  disgust. 

"  Must  I  stay  in  here  long?  "  he  asked,  look 
ing  about  him  with  a  shudder. 

"  Likely  you  won't  be  tried  till  to-morrow." 

"And  I  must  stay  in  here  overnight — with 
that  man?" 

"  Hoss-stealers  mustn't  be  particular,"  said 
the  constable. 

"  Can  you  tell  me  where  Colonel  Owen  lives 
— the  man  that  owns'  the  horse?  " 

"  You  ought  to  know  that !  " 

"  I  remember  the  advertisement  says 
Shelby.  How  far  away  is  Shelby?  " 

"  'Bout  twenty  miles.  Was  that  where  you 
stole  her?  " 

"  I  didn't  steal  her  at  all !  "  answered  Wal 
ter  sharply. 

"  Well,  of  course,  you'd  say  so." 

"  Do  you  think  I  look  like  a  horse  thief?  " 

"  Can't  judge  by  appearances.  I  knowed 
a  horse  thief  once  that  looked  like  a  minister." 

"  Is  there  any  lawyer  in  this  village?  " 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      231 

"  Yes,  there's  two,  an  old  man  and  a  young 
one." 

"  I  should  like  to  see  one  of  them.  Can  you 
ask  one  of  them  to  come  here?  " 

"  Which  one?  " 

"  Either." 

"  It's  a  leetle  out  of  my  way,"  suggested 
Constable  Stokes. 

"  Perhaps1  that  will  pay  you  for  your  trou 
ble,"  said  Walter,  taking  the  hint. 

The  constable  pocketed  with  alacrity  the 
half-dollar  our  hero  tendered  him,  and  said 
briskly:  "  I'll  send  him  right  off." 

"  I  shay,"  interjected  the  tramp,  "  send  me 
a  lawyer,  too." 

"  The  same  man  will  do  for  you,"  replied 
the  constable.  "  A  lawyer  won't  do  you  no 
good,  though." 

"  I'm  a  much  'bused  man,"  said  the  drunk 
ard,  shedding  maudlin  tears.  "  S'ciety's 
down  on  me.  I  don't  know  why." 

"  Give  up  drinkin'  and  you  won't  have  no 
trouble  with  society,"  advised  the  constable 
sensibly. 

He  left  the  lockup,  carefully  fastening  tin* 
door,  and  Walter  found  himself  left  to  the 
companionship  of  the  tramp. 

"  I  s'hay,"  hiccoughed  his  disreputable  com 
panion,  "  let's  escape," 


232      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

"  I  don't  see  bow  we  are  going  to  do  that," 
answered  Walter  listlessly. 

"  Haven't  you  a  key?  " 

"  None  that  will  unlock  the  door." 

"We're  victims  of  tyrannical  'pression!" 
said  the  tramp  gloomily.  "  What  are  you  in 
for,  young  feller?  " 

"  I'm  charged  with  stealing  a  horse." 

"Smart  boy!"  said  the  tramp  admiringly. 
"  I  didn't  think  you  was  up  to  hoss-stealin'." 

"  I  am  not.     The  charge  is  false." 

"  That's  right !  Stick  to  it !  Deny  every 
thing.  That's  what  I  do." 

"  Evidently  he  thinks  I  am  guilty,"  said 
Walter  to  himself.  "  It  won't  do  much  good 
for  him  to  deny  that  he  is  drunk." 

"  I  shay,"  continued  the  other,  in  a  loud 
whisper,  "  you  haven't  got  any  whisky  about 
you,  young  feller?" 

"  No,  I  never  drink  whisky." 

"  You  don't  know  what's  good !  "  returned 
the  tramp.  "  I'm  awful  dry." 

"  You'd  better  let  whisky  alone." 

"  That's  what  my  wife  says,"  hiccoughed 
the  inebriate.  "  Shay,  I'm  sleepy.  I  guess 
I'll  doze  off." 

And  to  Walter's  relief  he  lay  down  on  the 
narrow  iron  bedstead  in  his  cell  and  was  soon 
snoring  noisily. 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      233 

Half-an-hour  later  the  outer  door  was 
opened  and  the  constable  reappeared,  followed 
by  a  young  man  of  about  thirty. 

"  This  is  Mr.  Barry,  the  lawyer,"  he  said. 
"  Mr.  Barry,  here  is  the  key.  You  can  keep 
it  and  let  yourself  out  if  you  will  be  respon 
sible  for  the  safe  custody  of  the  prisoner." 

"  Yes,  Mr.  Stokes,  I  will  give  you  my  word 
that  he  shall  not  escape.  "Which  is  my 
client?" 

"  I  am,  sir,"  answered  Walter.  "  I  hope 
you  are  not  disappointed." 

"  No;  I  shouldn't  care  to  undertake  the  case 
of  that  animal  over  there." 

"  Yet  his  case  is  less  serious  than  mine.  He 
is  only  charged  with  drunkenness,  while  I  am 
accused  of  horse-stealing." 

By  this  time  the  constable  had  left  the 
lockup,  and,  as  the  inebriate  was  asleep,  Wal 
ter  and  his  counsel  were  practically  alone. 

"  You  don't  look  like  a  criminal,  certainly," 
said  the  lawyer,  with  a  rapid  survey  of  his 
new  client. 

"  I  hope  not." 

"  But  one  can't  go  by  appearances  wholly. 
As  your  lawyer,  for  I  will  undertake  your 
case,  I  must  ask  you  to  trust  me  entirely,  and 
give  me  your  full  confidence." 

"  I  am  ready  to  do  so,  sir." 


234      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

"  First  let  rne  ask  jour  name." 

"  Walter  Sherwood." 

"  It  will  now  be  necessary  for  you  to  tell  me 
frankly  whether  you  stole  the  horse  or  not." 

"  Of  course  I  did  not,"  answered  Walter 
indignantly. 

"  You  must  excuse  my  asking  the  question. 
I  did  not  believe  you  guilty,  but  it  was  neces 
sary  for  me  to  know  positively  from  your  own 
lips.  You  must  not  be  sensitive." 

"  I  have  no  right  to  be,  but  I  find  myself  in 
a  very  trying  position." 

"  Of  course,  but  I  will  try  to  get  you  out 
of  it.  Now,  will  you  tell  me  in  detail  how 
the  horse  came  into  your  possession?" 

Walter  told  the  story,  and  the  lawyer  lis 
tened  attentively. 

"  Have  you  any  proof  of  what  you  assert?  " 
he  asked,  when  Walter  finished. 

"  There  was  no  one  present." 

"  I  suppose  not.  Did  no  papers  pass  be 
tween  you  and  this  man?" 

"  Oh,  yes ! "  answered  Walter  quickly,  and 
he  drew  out  the  receipt  which  he  had  drawn 
up  and  got  Hank  Wilson  to  sign. 

"  Come,  this  is  very  important ! "  said  Mr. 
Barry  cheerfully.  "  It  is  a  very  valuable  con 
firmation  of  your  story.  Will  you  trust  me 
with  it?" 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      235 

"  Certainly,  sir." 

"  Is  there  any  suggestion  you  have  to  offer, 
Mr.  Sherwood?  Sometimes  I  find  that  iny 
clients  give  rue  valuable  assistance  that  way." 

"  I  wish  you  would  telegraph  to  Colonel 
Owen  to  come  here." 

"  Probably  he  has  been  sent  for,  but  if  not 
I  will  request  him  to  come.  Do  you  know  the 
colonel?  " 

"  No,  sir;  I  never  heard  his  name  till  I  read 
the  advertisement.  Do  you  know  anything  of 
him  Mr.  Barry?" 

"  He  is  the  owner  of  a  large  estate  in 
Shelb}7,  and  is  a  thorough  gentleman  of  the  old 
school." 

"  All  the  better !  I  would  rather  deal  with 
such  a  man.  Besides,  by  describing  the  man 
of  whom  I  bought  the  horse.  I  may  put  him 
in  the  way  of  capturing  the  real  thief." 

"Well  thought  of.  May  I  ask,  Mr.  Sher 
wood,  if  you  are  from  this  part  of  the  coun 
try?" 

"No;  I  am  a  native  of  New  York  State." 

"  You  look  like  a  young  man  who  has  had 
good  advantages  of  education." 

"  A  year  ago  I  was  a  member  of  the  sopho 
more  class  of  Euclid  College." 

"  That  is  strange !  "  ejaculated  Barry. 

«  What  is  strange?  " 


236      Walter  Sherwood's  Probatioa 

"  Colonel  Owen,  the  owner  of  the  horse,  is 
,  an  old  graduate  of  the  same  institution." 

"  Is  it  possible? "  exclaimed  Walter,  in 
genuine  amazement. 

"  It  is  quite  true.  I  am  glad  to  have  made 
the  discovery.  It  will  prepossess  him  in  your 
favor,  and  this,  I  need  hardly  say,  will  be  a 
great  point  gained.  Well,  I  believe  I  have  ob 
tained  all  the  data  I  require,  and  I  will  now 
go  home  and  think  over  your  case.  I  wish  I 
could  take  you  with  me." 

"  I  wish  you  could;  I  hate  to  be  left  in  such 
a  place." 

"  Cheer  up,  Mr.  Sherwood.  It  won't  be  for 
long,  I  predict.  You  may  rest  assured  of  my 
best  efforts  in  your  behalf.  I  will  at  once 
telegraph  for  Colonel  Owen." 

Left  alone,  Walter  resigned  himself,  as  best 
he  might,  to  his  confinement. 

"  I  hope  this  won't  come  to  the  ears  of 
my  friends  at  the  East,"  he  reflected.  "  It 
would  be  a  terrible  mortification  to  me." 

Walter  had  good  cause  for  solicitude  on  this 
point,  for  human  nature  is  so  constituted  that 
evil  reports  are  believed  with  avidity  by  the 
majority  of  persons. 

In  due  time  a  plain  supper  was  brought  by 
the  constable  and  eaten  by  both  prisoners  with 
fair  appetite,  though  the  inebriate  begged 
hard  for  whisky  instead  of  tea. 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      237 

The  evening  glided  wearily  away.     Walter 
threw  himself  on  his  pallet  and  was  nearly 
asleep  when  a  confused  noise  was  heard  out 
side,  and  heavy  blows  were  rained  upon  the 
outer  door. 

"What  does  it  mean?"  asked  Walter,  be 
wildered. 

He  listened  intently,  and  there  came  to 
his  ears  a  shout  which  made  him  turn  pale 
with  terror. 


CHAPTER    XXXII. 

AN   AWFUL   MOMENT. 

"BRING  out  the  boss  thief!  Lynch  him! 
Lynch  him ! '' 

These  were  the  cries  that  startled  Walter 
and  sent  a  thrill  of  terror  through  his  frame. 
He  had  heard  about  the  rough  and  lawless 
punishments  of  the  far  West,  but  little 
dreamed  that  he  would  ever  be  in  danger 
from  them.  He  remembered  now  reading 
a  story  while  he  was  in  college  of  a  horse  thief 
who  was  summarily  dealt  with  in  the  western 
part  of  Missouri  or  some  State  farther  west, 
and  all  the  terrible  details  came  back  with 
startling  vividness. 

"  What's  up?  "  asked  the  tramp  drowsily, 
opening  his  eyes. 


238      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

"  Bring  out  the  boss  thief!  "called  a  dozen 
rough  voices,  as  the  battering  at  the  door  was 
repeated. 

"  They  want  you,  young  feller '. "  he  con 
tinued,  as  he  caught  the  meaning  of  the  cry. 

Poor  Walter  shivered,  and  felt  as  if  his 
last  hour  had  come. 

There  was  no  jailer  in  the  building,  nor  in 
deed  any  one,  for  the  engine-house  was  un 
occupied,  and,  being  at  a  distance  from  any 
other  house,  the  only  persons  aware  of  the 
attack  were  the  two  prisoners. 

"What  shall  we  do?"  asked  Walter  help 
lessly. 

"  They  don't  want  me,"  returned  the  traiup 
complacently.  "  It's  you  they  want !  " 

"You  will  stand  by  me?"  implored  Wal 
ter,  eager  for  any  help. 

"  Won't  do  no  good !  There's  a  crowd  of 
them.  You're  in  a  bad  box,  young  feller: 

"  Have  you  got  a  pistol?  " 

"No." 

Then  it  flashed  upon  Walter  that  he  still 
had  the  revolver  which  belonged  to  Dick 
Ranney. 

"  I  will  sell  my  life  dearly !  "  thought  Wal 
ter.  "  They  sha'n't  kill  me  without  some 
resistance." 

But  he  knew  that  there  was  no  hope  even 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      239 

then  to  escape.  He  closed  his  eyes  as  if  he 
would  shut  out  the  terrible  prospect.  To  die 
at  eighteen,  when  life  was  sweet  and  full  of 
promise,  and  at  the  hands  of  an  infuriated 
mob,  was  indeed  terrible,  and  Walter  prayed 
that  deliverance  might  come. 

Meanwhile  the  battering  at  the  door  con 
tinued  and  the  shouting. 

"  Open  the  door,  or  it'll  bo  the  wuss  for  ye !  " 
cried  a  rough  voice. 

But  this  was  something  Walter  could  not 
do,  even  if  he  were  disposed :  first,  because  he 
had  no  key,  and,  secondly,  because  he  was 
locked  in  a  cell.  It  was  of  no  use  to  reply. 
He  bit  his  lips,  and  summoned  all  his  courage 
and  fortitude,  knowing  he  would  need  them 
all. 

The  door  was  strong,  but  it  did  not  long 
withstand  the  fierce  attacks  made  upon  it. 
Walter,  by  the  light  that  came  in  through  a 
crevice,  saw  it  sway  and  gradually  yield  to 
the  impetuous  attacks  of  the  mob. 

A  minute  more  and  the  door  fell  inward, 
and  a  dozen  stalwart  men,  all  wearing  masks, 
rushed  into  the  lockup.  The  foremost  carried 
a  lantern,  and  by  its  light  the  leaders,  peering 
about,  discovered  the  two  prisoners. 

"Here's  the  boss  thief!"  exclaimed  the 
leader,  throwing  the  light  into  the  cell  occu 
pied  by  the  inebriate. 


240      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

The  tramp  was  alarmed  and  completely 
sobered  by  the  terrible  suggestion. 

"  I  ain't  the  man ! "  he  said.  "  It's  that 
young  feller  yonder." 

The  man  with  the  lantern  turned  in  the  di 
rection  of  the  other  cell. 

"He's  only  a  kid!"  he  said  doubtfully. 

"  All  the  same,  he's  the  hoss  thief!  "  said  the 
tramp  earnestly. 

"  What  are  you  in  for?  "  asked  the  leader 
suspiciously. 

"  Gettin'  drunk !  "  wras  the  answer.  "  On 
my  honor,  gentlemen,  that's  all." 

"  Is  he  telling  the  truth?  "  asked  the  leader, 
turning  to  the  men  who  were  just  behind  him. 

"He  looks  most  like  the  hoss  thief!"  said 
Dan  Muggins.  "  The  other's  a  milk-and-water 
chap,  just  out  of  boardin'-school." 

"  You're  right !     Smash  in  the  cage ! " 

The  door  of  the  cell  was  broken  in,  and  the 
tramp,  with  his  unkempt  hair  and  unsavory 
garments,  was  dragged  out,  howling  with 
terror.  The  impression  was  universal  that  he 
was  the  man  they  were  after,  and  rough  hands 
hauled  him  across  the  floor  toward  the  door. 
He  fought  desperately,  and  the  angry  crowd 
were  likely  to  injure  him  seriously. 

Above  the  din  rose  his  shrill  voice  shriek 
ing:  "  You've  got  the  wrong  man.  The  young 
feller's  the  hoss  thief.  Ask  him  if  he  isn't," 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      241 


CHAPTER    XXXIII. 

WALTER  SAVES  ANOTHER'S  LIFE. 

MEANWHILE  the  feelings  of  Walter  were 
hard  to  describe.  He  saw  that  perhaps  his 
only  chance  of  life  lay  in  remaining  quiet  and 
letting  the  mistake  remain  uncorrected.  It 
was  a  terrible  temptation.  Selfishness  whis 
pered  that  his  life  was  more  valuable  than 
that  of  this  drink-s'odden  inebriate.  Why  not 
let  matters  take  their  course?  He  saw  the 
tramp  in  the  hands  of  the  howling  mob,  and 
knew  that  if  he  spoke  the  word  he  would  take 
his  place.  Would  he,  could  he,  do  it?" 

On  the  other  hand,  the  poor  wretch  was  as 
much  entitled  to  life  as  he.  He  had  done 
absolutely  nothing  to  deserve  the  lynching, 
while  he,  Walter,  had  imprudently  bought  the 
horse  without  inquiring  how  his  acquaintance 
of  the  wayside  had  come  by  her. 

"  He's  the  boss  thief ! "  shrieked  the  tramp. 
"  Ask  him  if  he  isn't." 

The  leader,  who  had  him  by  the  collar, 
paused,  and  the  words  of  the  captive  seemed 
to  make  some  impression  on  him. 

"  We  don't  want  to  make  no  mistake,"  he 
said.  "  Mebhe  we  might  ask  him." 

Still   retaining  his   hold   upon   the   tramp, 


242      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

he  turned  to  Walter  as  he  reached  the  door, 

"  You  hear  what  this  man  says?  " 

"  Yes,"  answered  Walter,  in  husky  accents. 

"  Is  it  true?    Are  you  the  hoss  thief?  " 

"  No !  " 

"  He  lies ! "  yelled  the  inebriate,  in  renewed 
terror,  with  a  wrathful  glance  at  Walter. 

"Just  as  I  thought!     Come  along!" 

And  the  poor  tramp  would  have  been 
dragged  away,  but  Walter,  his  face  pale,  but 
resolute,  held  up  his  hand  to  secure  atten 
tion. 

"  Listen ! "  he  said.  "  I  am  not  a  horse 
thief,  but  I  was  put  in  here  charged  with  steal 
ing  the  horse  of  Colonel  Owen." 

"  You  hear  him !  You've  got  the  wrong 
man ! "  cried  the  tramp,  in  a  tone  of  relief. 
"  He's  a  good  fellow.  I  knew  he  wouldn't  let 
me  be  hung  in  his  place." 

The  leader  of  the  mob  looked  surprised. 

"  Then  this  man  isn't  the  thief? "  he  said 
inquiringly. 

"  Neither  he  nor  I,"  returned  Walter. 

"  What's  he  in  here  for,  then?  Do  you 
know  him?  " 

"  I  never  saw  him  till  I  met  him  here.  He 
was  drunk." 

"  Jest  as  I  said,  gentlemen,"  chimed  in  the 
inebriate.  "  I  cheerfully  admit  that  I  was 
drunk — awful  drunk !  Wasn't  I,  mate?  " 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      243 

"  I  think  you  were,"  said  Walter  gravely. 

*'  Then  we've  got  the  wrong  one ! "  said  the 
leader.  "  Here,  you  can  go !  "  And  releasing 
his  hold  upon  the  tramp  he  gave  him  a  push 
that  sent  him  reeling. 

"  We  must  have  you !  "  went  on  the  leader, 
approaching  Walter's  cell. 

"  What  do  you  want  to  do  with  me?  "  asked 
Walter,  with  sinking  heart. 

"  String  you  up!  That's  the  way  we  serve 
hoss  thieves ! " 

"  Gentlemen !  "  said  Walter,  "  you  are  mak 
ing  a  terrible  mistake.  I  am  as  innocent  of 
horse-stealing  as  any  of  you." 

"  Didn't  you  say  jest  now  you  was  the 
thief?  " 

"  No ;  I  said  I  was  put  in  here  charged  with 
horse-stealing." 

"  That's  the  same  thing.  Wasn't  you  taken 
with  the  hoss  in  your  possession?" 

"  Yes." 

"  'Nough  said !  We've  got  the  right  man 
this-  time." 

An  assault  was  made  on  the  door  of  the  cell, 
and  within  three  minutes  Walter  was  dragged 
out;  but  he  was  not  handled  so  roughly  as  the 
tramp  had  been.  His  young  face  appealed  to 
the  gentler  feelings  of  the  rough  men  who 
constituted  the  mob.  But  the  hand  that  held 


244      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

him  was  firm,  and  as  they  filed  out  from  the 
rear  of  the  building  and  into  the  road,  Walter, 
looking  from  one  to  another,  unable  to  distin 
guish  faces'  on  account  of  the  masks  that  par 
tially  concealed  them,  felt  that  his  chance  of 
deliverance  TV  as  small  indeed. 

He  began  to  speak,  but  was  roughly  ordered 
to  shut  up. 

The  line  of  march  was  resumed,  and  a  quar 
ter  of  a  mile  distant  they  passed  through  a 
gate  and  began  the  ascent  of  a  hill,  at  the 
summit  of  which  was  a  grove  of  tall  trees. 
Walter  shuddered  and  his  heart  sank  within 
him,  for  he  understood  only  too  well  what 
fate  was  in  store  for  him. 


CHAPTER   XXXIV. 

A   TERRIBLE   ORDEAL. 

AT  the  summit  of  the  hill  Walter's  captors 
came  to  a  halt. 

"  Where's  the  noose? "  asked  the  leader 
briefly. 

"Here!"  was  the  reply  of  one  of  his  fol 
lowers,  drawing  forth  a  coil  of  rope,  strong 
and  terribly  suggestive.  What  wonder  that 
Walter  shuddered,  and  that  the  blood  seemer1 
to  congeal  in  his  veins. 

"  Young    man,"    said    the    leader    sternly. 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      245 

"jour  hours  are  numbered.  Have  you  any 
thing  to  say  why  we  should  not  proceed  to 
visit  upon  you  the  punishment  of  your 
crime?  " 

"  I  have  a  good  deal  to  say,"  answered 
Walter,  finding  his1  voice  and  speaking  indig 
nantly.  "  Even  if  I  were  guilty,  which  I  am 
not,  you  have  no  right  to  condemn  me  to 
death  untried.  You  are  usurping  the  office 
of  the  law.  I  ask  nothing  better  than  to  dis 
prove  in  court  the  false  charge  which  has  been 
brought  against  me." 

"  Young  man,  there  are  some  crimes  which 
the  law  does  not  adequately  punish.  In  our 
eyes  a  horse  thief  is  worse  than  a  murderer." 

"  I  won't  argue  with  you,  but  you  are  put 
ting  the  value  of  a  horse  above  that  of  a  hu 
man  life.  I  have  told  you  already  that  I  am 
not  a  horse  thief." 

"  Of  course  you  won't  confess  it." 

"  I  would  if  I  had  committed  the  crime,  and 
throw  myself  on  your  mercy." 

"  There  isn't  a  man  here  that  doubts  your 
guilt." 

Walter  was  about  to  speak  when  there  was 
an  unexpected  interruption.  One  of  the 
masked  men,  who  had  hitherto  stood  in  the 
background,  came  forward,  and  in  clear,  ring 
ing  accents  spoke. 


246      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

"The  lad  says  right  He  has  not  been 
proved  guilty,  and  I  for  one  believe  him  inno 
cent." 

"Take  care!"  said  the  leader  menacingly. 
"  We  don't  tolerate  any  insubordination." 

Walter  saw  a  chance  to  make  a  favorable 
impression,  and  as  a  drowning  man  clings  to 
a  straw  he  did  not  fail  to  snatch  at  it. 

"  I  thank  God,"  he  said,  "  that  there  is  one 
among  you  whose  heart  is  not  wholly  hard 
ened.  I  stand  here  a  boy — barely  eighteen 
years  old.  Is  there  no  one  among  you  who  has 
a  son  of  my  age?  What  would  he  say  if  his 
own  boy  were  snatched  from  his  bed  at  mid 
night  and  brought  face  to  face  with  a  fearful 
death  in  punishment  for  a  crime  charged 
against  him  and  not  proven?" 

"  The  boy  is  right,"  said  another  in  a  deep 
voice.  "  Men,  we  are  acting  like  cowards  and 
brutes.  I've  got  a  boy  at  home  the  age  of  this 
boy.  If  any  man  should  treat  him  as  we. are 
treating  yonder  lad  I'd  shoot  him  if  I  had  to 
swing  for  it !  " 

The  words  of  a  brave  man  always  produce 
an  impression. 

"  So  say  I ! "  a  third  man  broke  in,  and  he 
ranged  himself  beside  the  other  two. 

"This  is  all  folly!"  exclaimed  the  leader 
angrily.  "  You  men  are  milksops  and  chicken- 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      247 

hearted.  I  came  here  to  hang  a  horse  thief, 
arid  by—  '  here  he  used  a  terrible  oath — "  I 
mean  to  do  it.  Jenkins,  climb  that  tree  and 
throw  the  rope  over  it." 

Walter's  face  flamed.  He  was  getting  back 
his  courage,  and  with  the  assurance  that 
among  the  twelve  men  he  had  three  friends 
he .  was  prepared  to  make  a  desperate  resist 
ance. 

"  Will  you  allow  this?  "  he  exclaimed,  as 
the  leader  seized  him  by  the  collar  and  drew 
him  to  a  tree. 

"  I  won't! "  said  the  first  man  to  pronounce 
in  his  favor.  "  Seth  Pendleton,  let  go  your 
hold!" 

"  Look  out !  "  cried  Pendleton  fiercely,  "  or 
you  may  swing,  too ! " 

"  You  hear  what  he  says,"  said  WTalter's 
friend.  "  Will  you  allow  him  to  bulldoze  you 
into  committing  a  crime  worse  than  horse- 
stealing?  Why  are  you  so  hard  on  the  boy?  " 

"  Why  am  I  so  hard  on  horse  thieves?  I'll 
tell  you.  Ten  years  ago  I  had  a  horse  that 
was  as  dear  to  me  as  a  brother.  It  is  a  strong 
statement,  but  it  is  true.  If  ever  a  horse 
loved  his  master  he  loved  me.  One  morning 
I  found  the  stable  door  open  and  the  horn* 
gone.  I  followed  him,  but  I  never  recovered 
him." 


248      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

"Who  stole  him?" 

"  A  man  named  Dick  Ranney,  who  has  since 
become  a  noted  highwayman." 

This  was  astonishing  news  to  Walter. 

"  Do  you  know  where  Dick  Ranney  is 
now?  "  he  asked. 

"I  heard  that  he  had  been  captured.  I'd 
like  to  get  at  him.'' 

"  I  am  the  one  who  captured  him,  and  for 
this  I  received  a  reward  of  a  thousand  dol 
lars  ! "  announced  Walter. 


CHAPTER    XXXV. 

THE   EMPTY   JAIL. 

THERE  was  a  murmur  of  surprise  and  a  buzz 
of  excitement  among  the  masked  men  when 
WTalter  announced  that  he  had  received  the 
reward  offered  for  the  capture  of  the  famous 
outlaw,  Dick  Ranney. 

"  I  don't  believe  it,"  said  Seth  Pendleton 
incredulously.  "  Dick  Ranney  wasn't  a  man 
to  be  captured  by  a  youngster  like  you." 

"  Bring  the  lantern  here,  untie  my  hands, 
and  I'll  prove  it  to  you." 

Less  perhaps  from  a  desire  to  see  Walter 
justify  himself  than  from  curiosity  to  ascer 
tain  whether  his  statement  was  true,  Seth 
Pendleton  himself  untied  his  hands  and  held 
up  the  lantern. 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      249 

Walter  drew  from  his  pocket  a  folded 
paper,  and,  opening  it,  handed  it  to  one  of 
the  three  men  who  had  declared  in  his  favor. 

"  Read  that !  "  he  said. 

The  man  read  as  follows: 

"  MR.  WALTER  SHERWOOD  : 

"  I  have  great  pleasure  in  sending  you  the 
reward  offered  for  the  apprehension  and  cap 
ture  of  the  noted  criminal,  Dick  Ranney,  and 
congratulate  you  on  the  courage  and  sagacity 
which  enabled  you  to  entrap  so  daring  an 
outlaw.  MILES  GRAY,  Sheriff." 

"Is  your  name  Walter  Sherwood?  "  asked 
Seth  Pendleton,  in  mingled  surprise  and  in 
credulity. 

"  Yes." 

"  How  can  you  prove  it?  " 

Walter  drew  from  his  pocket  two  letters 
directed  to  him. 

"Seems  to  be  true;  but  how  could  you,  a 
boy,  trap  a  man  like  that?  " 

"Shall  I  tell  you  the  story?" 

"  Yes !     Yes ! "   exclaimed  more  than   one. 

Walter  gave  an  account  of  the  affair  in  a 
clear,  distinct  manner,  and  the  rough  crowd, 
gathering  near,  listened  to  him  with  eager 
interest.  When  he  had  finished  there  was  a 
murmur  of  applause. 

"  Now,  gentlemen,"  said  Walter,  as  he  con- 


250      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

eluded,  "  do  you  believe  that  I  would  stoop  to 
steal  a  horse?  " 

He  looked  about  him  with  an  assured 
glance,  for  he  saw  that  his  audience  were  with 
him. 

He  was  not  mistaken.  There  were  shouts 
of  "No!  No!"  and  then,  for  the  first  time, 
Walter,  breathing  a  sigh  of  relief,  felt  that  he 
was  safe. 

"  Well,  Seth  Pendleton,  be  you  in  favor  of 
hanging  the  boy  now?  "  asked  one. 

"No!  If  he's  trapped  Dick  Ranney  I'd  for 
give  him,  even  if  he  had  stolen  a  horse." 

"  Then  let  him  go !  " 

"  Yes,  let  him  go !  "  cried  all. 

And  Walter  might  have  gone  scot-free  had 
he  chosen,  but  he  did  not  choose. 

"  No,  gentlemen,"  he  said,  "  I  don't  want 
to  escape.  Take  me  back  to  the  lockup,  and 
I  will, stay  there  till  morning" 

"  The  door  is  broken !  " 

"  That  will  make  no  difference  to  me.  I 
have  no  wish  to  break  jail.  I  prefer  to  stand 
trial  and  let  my  innocence  be  proved." 

The  men  around  him  were  rough  customers, 
but  they  admired  pluck.  Half-an-hour  earlier 
they  had  been  ready  to  hang  Walter.  Now 
they  looked  upon  him  as  a  hero. 

"He's  a  brave  lad!"  said  more  than  one. 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      251 

"  I  wish  my  John  would  turn  out  like  him," 
added  one  of  Walter's  original  supporters. 
"  You  sha'n't  go  to  the  jail !  YOB  shall  go  to 
my  house,  and  I'll  give  you  the  best  bed  in 
the  house,"  he  continued. 

Bearing  in  mind  the  hard  pallet  and  the 
unsavory  companion  with  whom  he  had 
shared  his  confinement,  Walter  accepted  this 
proposal  with  thanks.  But  he  need  not  have 
been  apprehensive  in  regard  to  his  late  com 
rade  in  misfortune,  for  the  tramp,  released 
from  his  cell  under  a  misapprehension,  had 
bidden  farewell  with  scant  ceremony  to  his 
temporary  quarters,  and  before  the  morning 
dawned  was  ten  miles  away. 

Of  all  that  had  passed  during  the  night 
Constable  Stokes  was  blissfully  unconscious. 
At  an  early  hour  he  bent  his  steps  toward  the 
jail,  expecting  to  find  the  two  inmates  safe 
in  their  cells.  When  he  saw  the  outer  door 
broken  down  he  was  astounded. 

He  felt  it  necessary  to  report  what  had 
happened  to  some  magistrate,  and  went  into 
the  street.  He  had  walked  but  a  few  steps 
when  he  met  Mr.  Barry,  Walter's  lawyer. 

"And  how  is  my  young  client  this  morn 
ing  Stokes?  ''  inquired  the  lawyer  pleasantly. 

"  Blessed  if  I  know !    He's  bolted ! " 


252      Walter  Sherwood  s  Probation. 

"  That  is  amazing!  Let  me  see  how  it, was 
done." 

"If  you  can  tell  you'll  be  wiser  than  I  am." 

The  two  made  their  way  to  the  rear  en 
trance,  and  Mr.  Barry,  with  a  lawyer's  astute 
ness,  began  to  make  an  examination. 

"  The  door  was  broken  from  the  outside ! " 
he  said,  after  a  pause. 

"Was  it?" 

"  Of  course  it  was.  Don't  you  see  that  it 
was  pushed  inward?  It  must  have  required 
a  great  deal  of  strength,  too." 

"  Then  you  don't  think  the  men  could  have 
done  it?" 

"  Of  course  not.  They  must  have  had  help 
from  outside  parties." 

"  But  who "  began  the  constable  in  be 
wilderment. 

"  That  is  hard  to  tell.  If,  now,  they  be 
longed  to  a  gang,  we  might  suppose  that  some 
of  their  comrades  found  out  where  they  were 
and  facilitated  their  escape.  But  the  two  ap 
peared  to  have  no  connection  with  each 
other,"  he  continued  reflectively. 


CHAPTER   XXXVI. 

COLONEL    RICHARD    OWEN. 

AT  this  moment  a  boy  of  fifteen,  drawn  by 
curiosity  made  his  way  from  the  street  to  the 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      253 

rear  entrance.  It  was  Arthur  Waters,  the  son 
of  a  jeweler.  He  had  heard  the  last  question 
and  answered. 

"  Perhaps  I  can  tell  tyou  something  about 
it,"  he  said. 

"  Go  on,  Arthur,"  rejoined  the  lawyer,  who 
knew  the  boy. 

"  Last  night,  I  think  it  was  about  midnight, 
I  heard  a  noise  in  the  street,  and,  getting  up, 
I  went  to  the  window.  I  saw  a  lot  of  men  fil 
ing  through  the  street,  all  wearing  masks." 

"  In  what  direction  were  they  going?  " 

"  Toward  the  lockup." 

"  They  must  have  been  in  search  of  the 
prisoners  to  lynch  them ! "  said  the  lawyer, 
turning  pale. 

"  And  you  think  they  broke  open  the  doorai, 
Mr.  Barry?" 

"  Yes,  Stokes." 

"  And  what  would  they  do  with  the  pris 
oners?  " 

"  Hang  them,  I  fear,  without  judge  or  jury. 
My  heart  bleeds  for  that  poor  boy.  I  would 
stake  my  life  on  his  innocence." 

"  So  would  I,  Mr.  Barry.  It's  a  shame,  so 
it  is." 

"It  is  an  outrage!  If  I  can  find  out  the 
perpetrators  of  the  dastardly  crime  I  will 
make  them  suffer,  if  possible," 


254      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

"  I  don't  mind  the  man,  sir,  but  I  hope  the 
boy  escaped." 

"  Thank  you,  constable.  I  am  alive  and 
well,  as  you  see." 

Both  the  lawyer  and  the  constable  looked 
up,  and  there,  to  their  great  relief,  stood  Wal 
ter. 

"Where  did  you  come  from?"  asked  the 
lawyer  quickly. 

"  I  slept  last  night  at  a  house  in  the  village. 
I  couldn't  stay  here  very  well,  as  the  doors 
were  broken  down." 

"  But  how  did  it  happen?  " 

Walter  told  his  story,  adding:  "  Constable 
Stokes,  I  give  myself  into  your  hands." 

"  But  I  don't  know  what  to  do  with  him," 
paid  the  constable,  embarrassed.  "  I  can't 
lock  him  up  in  a  cell." 

"  Exactly,"  said  the  lawyer.  "  Perhaps,  as 
I  am  his  counsel,  I  had  better  take  him  with 
me.  I  will  be  responsible  for  his1  appearance 
in  court." 

"  Yes,  that  will  be  the  best  way,"  said  the 
constable,  much  relieved  by  the  suggestion. 

Walter  was  ushered  into  the  office  of  the 
lawyer,  and  sat  down,  looking  more  like  a 
privileged  visitor  than  the  defendant  in  a 
criminal  action. 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      255 

"  Did  you  ever  think  of  studying  law,  Mr. 
Sherwood?"  asked  Barry. 

"No,  sir;  at  least  not  specially.  Perhaps, 
if  I  ain  going  to  get  into  any  more  scrapes, 
it  might  be  well  to  do  so." 

"  I  can  hardly  recommend  it  for  that  reason, 
as  a  man  who  pleads  his  own  case  is  likely 
to  have  a  fool  for  his  client." 

"  I  have  heard  so,  but  if  I  had  not  pleaded 
my  own  ca&e  last  night  when  in  the  hands 
ef  the  mob  I  am  afraid  it  would  have  been  all 
up  with  me,"  said  Walter  gravely. 

At  this  moment  the  office  door  opened,  and 
an  old  gentleman  with  a  portly  form  and 
pleasant  face  fringed  with  silvery  hair  en 
tered. 

The  lawyer  rose  from  his  seat  with  alacrity. 

"  Colonel  Owen,"  he  exclaimed,  "  I  am  glad 
to  see  you." 

"  Yes,  sir.  I  received  your  telegram  and 
came  by  the  first  morning  train.  So  the  man 
who  stole  my  hor.se  has  been  caught?  " 

Walter  looked  attentively  at  the  old  gentle 
man  whom  he  was  supposed  to  have  robbed, 
lie  liked  his  placid,  benevolent  countenance. 
So  this  was  the  man  upon  whom  it  would 
devolve  to  prosecute  him  on  a  criminal 
charge!  He  could  not  realize  it,  and  when 
he  heard  the  horse  thief  referred  to  he  could 


256      Waiter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

not  connect  that  desperate  individual  with 
himself. 

"  The  man  who  is  charged  with  the  theft 
has  been  caught,"  said  Mr.  Barry. 

"  Charged !  Then  you  don't  believe  him 
guilty?" 

"  No.     I  have  undertaken  to  defend  him." 

"What  sort  of  a  looking  person  is  he?" 
inquired  Colonel  Owen. 

"  Oh,  a  very  desperate-looking  ruffian !  "  re 
plied  the  lawyer. 

"And  yet  you  don't  think  him  guilty?" 
said  Colonel  Owen. 

"  No.    Would  you  like  to  meet  him?  " 

"  I  don't  know,"  answered  the  colonel 
doubtfully. 

"  Your  curiosity  as  to  his  appearance  could 
then  be  gratified." 

"  Well,  perhaps  I  will  call  with  you  by  and 
by.  But,"  he  continued  anxiously,  "  is  the 
mare  in  good  condition?  Is  she  uninjured?  " 

"  I  have  not  seen  her,  but  there  is  some  one 
present  who  has.  Mr.  Sherwood,  what  can 
you  say  as  to  the  condition  of  the  colonel's 
mare?  " 

"  I  think  Bess  is  in  excellent  condition," 
answered  Walter,  with  a  smile. 

"  Ah,  I  am  much  relieved  to  hear  it.  That, 
at  least,  is  in  the  thief's  favor.  But,  Mr. 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      257 

Barry,  you  have  not  introduced  me  to  this 
,  young  gentleman,"  continued  Colonel  Owen, 
eyeing  Walter  with  favor. 

"  I  didn't  know  that  you  would  care  for  an 
introduction,"  said  the  lawyer  demurely. 

"  Why  not?  "  asked  the  old  gentleman,  open 
ing  his  eyes  in  surprise. 

"  Because  he  is   the  horse  thief ! " 

CHAPTER  XXXVII, 

WALTER  IS  VINDICATED. 

"BLESS  my  soul !  "  ejaculated  the  colonel, 
on  hearing  that  he  was  in  the  presence  of  the 
horse  thief,  stepping  back  hastily  and  glanc 
ing  at  Walter  nervously.  "  Surely  you  are 
joking?  " 

"  No,  I  assure  you  I  am  not.  Mr.  Walter 
Sherwood  is  the  young  man  who  is  accused 
of  stealing  your  mare,  Bess." 

"  But  that  is  absurd." 

"  Thank  you  for  saying  so,  Colonel  Owen," 
said  Walter,  with  a  frank  smile.  "  I  don't 
think  I  look  like  a  horse  thief." 

"  What  does  it  all  mean,  Barry?  I  am  sure 
this  must  be  a  practical  joke  of  yours1." 

"  No,  it  is  not." 

"  Then  how  does  it  happen  that  Mr.  Sher 
wood  is  sitting  here  in  your  office  instead  of 
being " 


258      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

"  In  the  lockup?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  I  was  taken  to  the  lockup,  Colonel  Owen," 
said  Walter,  "  but  about  midnight  a  lynching- 
partj  broke  it  open  and  took  me  out." 

"A  Ijnching-party!  "  exclaimed  the  colonel. 

"  Yes ;  I  was  taken  up  to  the  summit  of  a 
hill,  and  for  five  minutes  it  looked  as  if  my 
life  would  end  then  and  there.  But  I  made 
an  appeal  to  my  captors,  and  was  able  to 
prove  to  them  that  I  received  a  reward  not 
long  since  for  the  capture  of  the  famous  out 
law,  Dick  Ranney." 

"  You  don't  mean  that  you  did  this?  " 

"  Yes,  sir.  Upon  this  they  let  me  go,  and  I 
ought  perhaps  to  apologize  for  not  going  back 
to  the,  lockup,  but  it  had  been  broken  open  and 
was  no  longer  a  place  of  security.  However, 
I  surrendered  myself  to  Mr.  Barry  this  morn 
ing.  I  hope  you  will  believe  that  I  had  no 
thought  of  running  away?  " 

Colonel  Owen  sank  into  a  chair,  and,  wip 
ing  his  forehead  with  his  handkerchief,  gazed 
at  Walter  in  a  bewildered  way. 

"  I  never  heard  the  like!  "  he  was  heard  to 
say. 

"  If  you  insist  upon  my  going  back  to  my 
cell  in  the  lockup,"  continued  Walter,  "  I  am 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      259 

quite  willing  to  go,  or  rather  not  entirely  will 
ing,  but  I  will  do  so." 

"  No,  no !  "  said  the  colonel.  "  I — I  don't 
know  what  to  say  or  think.  Do  you  mind  tell 
ing  me,  young  man,  why  you  were  arrested, 
or  why  you  fell  under  suspicion?  " 

"  I  was  s Treated  while  on  the  horse's  back." 

"  Ha  !     But  how  did  that  happen?  " 

"  I  bought  her  of  a  man  whom  I  met  on  the 
highway.  He  seemed  very  hard  up,  or  the 
price  for.  which  he  was  willing  to  part  with 
her  would  have  excited  my  suspicions.'' 

"  How  much  did  you  pay  for  her?  "  asked 
the  colonel. 

"Fifty  dollars." 

"  Fifty  dollars !  "  exclaimed  Colonel  Owen 
indignantly.  "  It  was  an  insult  to  my  beauti 
ful  Bess." 

"  I  am  glad  I  did  not  pay  any  more,  since 
it  will  come  out  of  my  own  pocket.  The  whole 
affair  is  a  lesson  to  me.  I  will  take  good  care 
how.  I  buy  anything  else,  unless  I  know  I  am 
dealing  with  the  rightful  owner." 

At  this  moment  a  boy  entered  the  office,  and 
going  up  to  Mr.  Barry  whispered  to  him  in 
a  low  voice. 

"  Gentlemen,"  said  the  lawyer,  "  I  find  that 
the  court  is  in  session  and  all  is  reiuly  for  the 
trial.  II  is  a  little  insular,  I  suppo*,',  for 


260      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

the  prosecutor  and  defendant  in  a  criminal 
case  to  walk  to  the  court-room  together,  but 
perhaps  we  can  violate  usage  for  once." 

"But,"  said  Colonel  Owen,  "I  don't  be 
lieve  the  young  man  is  guilty.  Is  there  any 
need  for  the  trial  to  come  off?  " 

"  I  should  prefer  that  it  sho'ild,  that  I  may 
be  formally  discharged,"  replied  Walter. 

"  By  the  way,  colonel,  are  you  not  a  gradu 
ate  of  Euclid?  "  asked  the  lawyer. 

"  Yes,  sir,  and  I  am  proud  of  the  dear  old 
college,"  rejoined  the  colonel  warmly. 

"  I  agree  with  you,"  said  Walter.  "  I  have 
pasred  two  years  in  the  college."  ' 

"  What !  are  you  a  Euclid  man?  "  exclaimed 
the  colonel  in  excitement. 

"Yes,   sir." 

"  Then  young  man,  here's  my  hand.  My 
heart  always  warms  toward  a  Euclid  man 


"  Even  if  you  have  to  prosecute  h;m  for 
horse-stealing,"  suggested  Lawyer  Barry 

slyly. 

"  Really,  this  is  very  painful ! "  said  the 
colonel.  "  I  wish  I  could  get  rid  of  it." 

"  You  can  say  in  court  that  you  are  con 
vinced  of  the  young  man's  innocence." 

"And  I  will!  And  afterward  I  shall  insist 
on  Mr.  Sherwood/s  driving  home*  with  u:e  and 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      261 

making  me  a  visit.  I  have  a  great  many  ques 
tions  to  ask  him  about  the  college.  I  haven't 
visited  the  old  place  for  fifteen  years." 

Great  was  the  surprise  of  Mr.  Crane  and 
Mr.  Penton  when  they  saw  the  horse  thief 
whom  they  had  captured  the  day  before  ap 
proach  the  court-room  arm  in  arm  with 
Colonel  Owen,  the  owner  of  the  stolen  mare. 

"  What  does  it  mean,  Penton? "  asked 
Crane. 

"  Danged  if  I  know,"  responded  Penton. 

"  Maybe  it's  a  put-up  job  to  cheat  us  out 
of  the  reward!"  said  Crane,  in  a  hollow 
voice. 

"  But  that  would  be  disgraceful,"  rejoined 
Penton,  in  nervous  alarm. 

The  trial  began,  and  presently  Crane  and 
Penton  were  called  on  to  testify. 

"  Did  you  see  the  prisoner  steal  the  mare?  " 
demanded  Barry  sharply. 

"  No  but " 

"  But  what?  " 

"  It  stands  to  reason  that  he  did,  or  he 
wouldn't  have  had  her  in  his  possession." 

"  That  is  no  proof  whatever.  Mr.  Sher 
wood,  you  may  take  the  stand." 

"  Walter,  at  the  request  of  his  counsel, 
gave  a  brief  and  concise  account  of  the  way 
in  which  he  became  possessed  of  Bess. 


262      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

"  The  question  arises,  Does  Mr.  Sherwood's 
story  seem  probable?"  now  remarked  the 
judge. 

"  I  am  convinced  that  it  is  true,"  said  the 
colonel  promptly. 

The  judge  saw  how  matters  stood  and  dis 
charged  the  prisoner. 

Crane  and   Penton   were  petrified. 

"  We're  left ! "  said  Crane,  in  a  tragic 
whisper. 

"  Now,  Mr.  Sherwood,"  said  the  colonel, 
taking  Walter's  arm,  "  you  must  accompany 
me  to  Shelby.  I  shall  hire  a  buggy,  and  you 
will  drive  Bess.  If  I  am  not  mistaken,  I  can 
find  you  congenial  employment  that  will 
keep  you  with  me  for  a  time." 


CHAPTER    XXXVIII. 

AN  OPENING  AT  SHELBY. 

AT  length  they  reached  Shelby.  Colonel 
Owen  lived  in  a  large  and  handsome  man 
sion  with  ample  grounds.  It  was  quite  the 
finest  house  in  the  town.  Walter  expressed 
his  admiration,  and  this  seemed  to  please  the 
colonel. 

"  Yes,"  he  said,  "  I  have  a  comfortable 
home, ,  but  my  boys  are  away,  one  in  Dakota 
and  the  other  in  California,  and  my  good 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      263 

wife  and  I  feel  lonely  in  this  large  house.  She 
will  be  glad  to  see  you.  It  will  brighten  us 
both  to  have  a  young  face  at  the  table." 

How  could  Walter  feel  otherwise  than 
pleased  with  this  cordial  welcome?  He  was 
charmed  with  Mrs.  Owen,  a  sweet-faced  old 
lady  with  silvery  hair. 

"  I  am  glad  to  see  you,"  she  said.  "  May  I 
call  you  Walter?  " 

"  I  wish  you  would,  Mrs.  Owen,"  said  Wal 
ter. 

"  I  suppose  your  mother  calls  you  so." 

"  My  mother  is  dead,  and  my  father,  also," 
answered  Walter  soberly. 

"  Then  look  upon  me  as  a  mother  while  you 
are  here,"  said  the  old  lady  warmly,  "  though 
I  am  old  enough  to  be  your  grandmother  for 
that  matter.  Did  you  find  your  horse,  Rich 
ard?  "  she  added. 

They  had  had  no  time  for  explanations. 

"  Yes,   my   dear." 

"  Did  you  see  the  man  that  stole  it?  " 

"  Yes,  my  dear,"  with  a  quiet  wink  at  Wal 
ter. 

"  Poor,  misguided  man !  "  said  the  warm 
hearted  old  lady.  "  Will  he  be  punished  by 
a  long  term  of  imprisonment?" 

"Well,  no;  they  let  him  go." 

"Isn't  that  rather  unusual?" 


264      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

"Well,  yes;  but  he  didn't  seem  very  hard 
ened,  and  I  think  that  was  the  first  horse 
that  he  ever  stole." 

"  I  am  glad  they  released  him,  then.  It 
will  give  him  a  chance  to  reform. 

"  True;  I  hope  he  will  do  so." 

"  There  is  one  thing  I  ought  to  tell  you,  but 
I  don't  know  how  you  will  take  it.  You  may 
be  angry,"  went  on  the  colonel. 

Mrs.  Owen  smiled. 

"  Am  I  often  angry  with  you,  Richard? " 
she  asked. 

"No;  but  still  I  think  you  will  consider 
me  very  imprudent. 

The  old  lady  looked  puzzled. 

"  I  have  faith  in  your  good  judgment,"  she 
said  simply. 

"  Then — I  may  as  well  out  with  it — I  in 
vited  the  horse  thief  to  come  and  make  us  a 
visit." 

Mrs.  Owen  certainly  was  amazed. 

"  You  did !  "  she  ejaculated.  "  When  is  he 
coming?  " 

"  He  is  here  already." 

"  I  don't  understand  you  at  all,  Richard. 
You  seem  to  be  joking." 

"  Not  at  all !  There  he  stands !  "  and  the 
colonel  pointed  to  Walter. 

"What,  Walter?" 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      265 

"  Yes ;  he  doesn't  look  very  hardened,  does 
he?" 

"  Now  I  am  sure  you  are  making  fun  of 
me/'  said  the  old  lady,  smiling. 

"  Not  at  all.  Ask  Walter  where  he  spent 
last  night." 

She  looked  at  Walter  inquiringly. 

"  The  first  part  of  it  in  the  lockup,"  an 
swered  he. 

"  You  don't  mean  to  say  that " 

"  I  was  charged  with  stealing  your  hus 
band's  horse,  but  I  think  he  is  convinced  that 
I  was  not  guilty.  I  was  tried  this  morning 
and  acquitted. 

"  I  knew  you  would  be  upset  at  the  thought 
of  having  a  horse  thief  in  the  house,"  said  the 
colonel  merrily. 

"  Perhaps  I  had  better  go  to  the  hotel," 
suggested  Walter. 

"No,  no!  I  can't  believe  anything  evil 
of  a  young  man  with  your  face,"  said  Mrs. 
Owen.  "  I  am  glad  my  husband  brought  you 
home  with  him." 

"  Still,  Mary,"  continued  Colonel  Owen, 
"  perhaps  you  had  better  watch  him  closely 
while  he  is  here.  A  young  man  who  will  steal 
a  horse  is  likely  to  steal  spoons.  Be  sure  to 
lock  them  up  to-night." 

"  Come,   Walter,    I    won't   permit   him    to 


266      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

joke  at  your  expense,"  said  the  old  lady,  plac 
ing  her  hand  affectionately  011  our  hero's 
shoulder.  "  He  is  a  very  suspicious  old  man, 
but  I  will  trust  you  completely." 

"  I  am  sure  you  will  both  be  kind  to  me," 
said  Walter  earnestly,  "  and  I  shall  appre 
ciate  it  the  more  because  I  have  neither  father 
nor  mother." 

"  I  hope  you  will  stay  with  us  a  long  time," 
said  Mrs.  Owen;  "that  is,  if  you  don't  get 
homesick." 

"  If  only  the  colonel  will  give  me  something 
to  occupy  my  time  I  would  like  to  stay,"  re 
joined  Walter.  "  I  want  to  be  at  work." 

"  I  have  a  little  writing  to  do  in  which  you 
can  assist  me,"  said  the  colonel. 

Walter  insisted  upon  commencing  the  next 
day,  and  worked  for  three  hours  daily,  the  rest 
of  the  time  being  spent  in  riding — for  the 
colonel  placed  a  horse  and  buggy  at  his  dis 
posal — and  in  social  calls.  But  at  length  the 
writing  was  done,  and  in  less  than  two  weeks 
Walter  found  himself  without  an  occupation. 
He  stood  it  for  three  days,  and  then  began  to 
feel  that  he  must  be  starting  out  again. 
Colonel  Owen  saw  his  uneasiness  and  tried  to 
think  of  some  employment  suited  to  the  taste 
of  .his  young  guest. 

One  afternoon  he  came  in  radiant. 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      267 

"  Well,  Walter,"  lie  said,  "  I've  got  some 
work  for  you  to  do." 

"\Vhat  is  it,  sir?" 

"  Mr.  Hayward,  the  teacher  of  our  classical 
school,  is  summoned  to  his  home  in  New  York 
State  by  the  serious  illness  of  his  father. 
There  are  yet  eight  weeks  of  the  term  remain 
ing,  and  the  question  is,  Who  shall  take  his 
place  till  the  end  of  the  school  year?  " 

"Yes,  sir?" 

"  I  am  one  of  the  trustees,  and  I  have  men 
tioned  your  name  to  my  colleagues,  who  are 
ready  to  accept  you  on  my  recommendation." 

Walter  heard  the  proposal  with  pleasant 
excitement.  It  flattered  his  vanity  to  be 
thought  competent  to  fill  the  place  of  an  ex 
perienced  classical  teacher,  but  he  did  not  feel 
so  sure  of  his  own  qualifications. 

"  There  is  nothing  I  should  like  better,"  he 
said,  "  but  do  you  think  I  am  competent?  " 

"  Are  you  not  from  Euclid  College — good 
old  Euclid?" 

"Yes,  sir;  but  I  am  not  a  graduate." 

"  You  have  finished  the  sophomore  year?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  And  you  stood  pretty  well  in  the  class?  " 

"  Yes,  sir,  but  only  fairly.  I  may  as  well 
tell  the  truth.  I  was  too  much  given  to  pleas 
ure,  and  I  am  afraid  wasted  my  time." 


268      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

"  You  were  well  prepared  when  you  entered 
college,  were  you  not? " 

"  Yes,  sir.  At  the  preparatory  school  I 
studied  well,  and  I  think  when  I  entered  I 
passed  the  second  best  entrance  examination." 

"  That's  ,all  right,"  said  the  colonel,  in  a 
tone  of  satisfaction.  "  You  ought  to  be  able 
to  teach  any  of  the  classes  that  will  come  un 
der  your  charge.  There  are  three  boys  in 
Virgil,  two  in  Cicero,  and  I  believe  there  is 
a  class  in  Caesar.  How  are  you  in  mathe 
matics?  " 

"  I  don't  think  I  shall  have  any  difficulty 
there,  sir." 

"  Then  you're  better  off  than  I  am." 

"  How  much  salary  shall  I  receive?  "  asked 
Walter,  who  was  beginning  to  grow  interested. 

"  Twenty-five  dollars  a  week.  That's  what 
the  trustees  authorize  me  to  offer  you." 

"  That  will  be  quite  satisfactory.  How  my 
old  chums  will  stare  when  I  tell  them  I  am 
getting  twenty-five  dollars  a  week  for  teaching 
a  classical  school.  I  suppose,"  added  Walter, 
hesitating,  "  I  ought  to  look  out  for  a  board 
ing-place." 

"What,  and  leave  us?"  asked  the  old  lady 
reproachfully. 

"  I  would  rather  stay  here  than  anywhere 
else,  but  you  must  allow  me  to  pay  board." 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.       269 

"No,  Walter;  we  shall  be  glad  enough  to 
have  you  stay  with  us  without  money  and 
without  price." 

"  But,  Colonel  Owen,  remember  that  I  shall 
be  earning  a  good  salary." 

"  You  can  find  a  use  for  it.  It  will  help 
make  , up  for  some  of  the  losses  you  have  in 
curred.  Shall  I  say  you  will  accept  the 
post?" 

"  Yes,  sir.  I  will  try  it,  and  hope  to  suc 
ceed." 

"  Good !  If  you  find  any  trouble  about  the 
discipline,  send  for  me." 


CHAPTER    XXXIX. 

THE    NEW    MASTER. 

ON  the  platform  of  the  main  schoolroom  in 
the  Shelby  Classical  Institute  stood  Colonel 
Owen  and  Walter  Sherwood. 

There  were  present  thirty-six  students,  of 
whom  twenty  were  boys.  Some  of  these  were 
quite  as  large, and  two  even  larger  and  prob 
ably  older  than  the  youthful  master.  All  had 
their  eyes  fixed  upon  the  colonel  and  the  new 
teacher. 

"  My  young  friends,"  began  Colonel  Owen. 
"  you  are  all  aware  that  your  respected 
teacher,  Mr.  Hayward,  is  obliged  to  be  absent 


270      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

for  the  remainder  of  the  term,  on  account  of 
the  sickness — the  serious  and  alarming  sick 
ness — of  his  father.  Under  these  circum 
stances,  I  am  glad  to  say  that  I  have  been  able 
to  secure  as  his  substitute  Mr.  Walter  Sher 
wood  "—here  he  indicated  Walter  with  a  side 
wave  of  the  hand — "  who  will  do  his  best  to 
carry  on  the  work  which  Mr.  Hayward  has 
so  auspiciously  commenced.  Mr.  Sherwood 
is  from  my  own  college — Euclid — of  which 
you  have  all  heard,  and  I,  therefore,  with  all 
the  more  confidence,  have  given  him  charge 
of  this  school.  I  hope  you  will  receive  him 
cordially  and  uphold  him  in  his  task." 

Here  the  colonel,  with  a  Itow,  took  his  hat 
and  left  the  room.  He  thought  WTalter  Avould 
be  less  embarrassed  to  be  left  to  commence 
his  task  alone. 

Walter  certainly  did  feel  some  diffidence 
as  he  realized  what  a  responsibility  had  been 
placed  upon  him.  He  asked  himself  whether 
he  had  done  wisely  in  accepting  it.  But  such 
questionings  were  too  late.  There  was  no 
drawing  back  no\v. 

He  cleared  his  throat  and  spoke  a  few 
words,  embarrassed  a  little,  perhaps,  by  the 
steady  and  attentive  gaze  of  thirty-six  pairs 
pf  eyes. 

"  Colonel  Owen  has  introduce^  me  to  you 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      271 

and  expressed  a  hope — in  which  I  join  him — 
that  you  will  receive  me  cordially  and  uphold 
me  in  my  work.  I  need  not  tell  you — for  you 
can  see  it  for  yourselves — that  I  am  unusually 
young  for  the  important  place  I  have  under 
taken  to  fill.  The  studies  in  which  I  am  to 
guide  you,  however,  are  familiar  to  me,  and  I 
hope  to  make  them  attractive  to  you.  In 
order  to  succeed  I  shall  need  your  considera 
tion  and  assistance,  and  I  hope  to  receive 
both.  I  will  now  go  about  among  the  seats-, 
make  inquiries  as  to  your  progress,  and  ar 
range  the  classes." 

This  short  speech  made  a  favorable  impres 
sion  upon  all  the  pupils  with  two  excep 
tions1.  These  were  the  largest  scholars — Ben 
Buffum  and  Enoch  Snow.  Ben  was  larger 
and  heavier  than  Walter,  and  Enoch  was  quite 
as  large.  Neither  was  much  of  a  scholar,  and 
both  were  disposed  to  make  trouble.  But 
they  sat  quietly  and  "  took  stock  "  of  the  new 
teacher.  They  were  in  no  hurry  to  begin,  but 
meant  mischief  all  the  same.  What  they 
thought  of  Walter  may  be  gathered  from  their 
conversation  as  they  walked  home  together. 

"  What  do  you  think  of  the  new  master, 
Ben?"  said  Enoch. 

"  I  think  I  can  lick  him,"  answered  Ben. 

"  You'd     ought    to.     You're     bigger     and 


272      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

stronger  than  he  is.  I  think  I  am  a  match 
for  him  myself." 

"  To  be  sure  you  are,  Enoch.  Why,  he  is 
only  a  boy !  " 

"  Of  course  he  is.    How  old  are  you,  Ben?  " 

"  I  was  eighteen  in  March." 

"  I  don't  believe  he's  any  more.  Why,  he 
ain't  fit  to  be  a  teacher." 

"  He'll  find  he's  undertaken  a  big  job,"  said 
Ben. 

"  I  guess  he  knows  something,"  went  on 
Enoch.  "  He  seems  to  be  a  good  Latin 
scholar." 

"  Yes,  I  s'pose  he'll  do.  He  ought  to  if  he's 
been  to  college ;  but  I'll  tell  you  what,  Enoch, 
it  riles  me  to  have  a  boy  of  my  own  age  set 
over  me." 

"Me  ditto!" 

"  He  would  do  for  a  primary  school.  He 
ought  to  be  able  to  manage  a  set  of  kids,  but 
when  it  comes  to  young  men  like  us,  I  don't 
like  to  let  people  know  that  he's  my  teacher." 

"  That's  so,  Ben.  What  are  you  goin'  to 
do?" 

"  I'll  just  wait  awhile,  but  if  he  begins  to 
put  on  any  airs,  why  then '' 

"  What?  " 

"  Why,  we  must  learn  him  a  lesson,  eh, 
Enoch?  " 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      273 

"  I'll  stand  bj  you,  Ben." 

"  It's  all  right  for  the  others  to  obey  him, 
but  you  and  I  are  just  as  strong  as  he,  and 
maybe  stronger." 

"  Of  course  we  are." 

"  I  guess  I  could  floor  him  in  wrestling." 

"  You're  too  much  for  me,  Ben,  and  I  think 
I  can  stand  up  to  him,  and  maybe  lick  him  in 
a  fair  fight." 

"  It's  likely  you  can.  Now,  there  was  Hay- 
ward — he  was  a  big  man,  weighing  a  hundred 
and  eighty,  and  five  feet  eleven  in  his  shoes. 
I  didn't  mind  obeying  him." 

"Are  you  talking  about  Mr.  Sherwood?" 
asked  Harry  Howe,  a  boy  of  fourteen,  who  had 
just  caught  up  with  the  other  two. 

"  No,  I'm  not.  I'm  talking  about  Mr.  Hay- 
ward." 

"  How  do  you  like  the  new  teacher?  " 

"  He's  only  a  boy.  He'll  have  a  hard  row 
to  hoe,  I'm  thinkin'." 

"  Who'll  make  it  hard  for  him?  " 

"  Enoch  and  I." 

"  Then  it  will  be  a  shame.  He  seems  to  be 
a  perfect  gentleman." 

"Gentleman!  He's  only  a  boy,  like  our 
selves." 

"At  any  rate,  he  knows  enough  to  teach 
us." 


274      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

"  That  may  be,  but  he  can't  keep  order." 

"  Why  can't  he?  " 

"  You'll  see  whether  he  can  or  not,"  said 
Ben  significantly. 

"  Are  you  going  to  make  trouble?  " 

"  It  isn't  best  for  small  boys  to  know  too 
much.  You  just  wait  and  you'll  find  out  in 
time." 

"  You'll  be  real  mean,  Ben  Buffum,  if  you 
make  Mr.  Sherwood  any  trouble,"  said  Harry 
warmly. 

"  Mr.  Sherwood !  "  repeated  Ben  mockingly. 
"  Why  don't  you  call  me  Mr.  Buffum?  " 

"  I  will  when  you  become  a  teacher,  Ben." 

"  I'd  like  to  see  Ben  Buffum  hearin'  les 
sons  !  "  said  Enoch,  with  a  loud  laugm. 

"  Don't  laugh  at  me,  Enoch  Snow !  "  said 
Ben,  with  a  frown.  "  If  I  tell  you  to  call  me 
Mr.  Buffum,  you'll  find  it  best  to  do  it." 

"  Ho,  ho !  No  offense,  Ben,  only  you  know 
it  seems  funny." 

"  If  I  choose  I  shall  call  the  teacher  Wal 
ter." 

"  You  wouldn't  dare  to,  would  you?  " 

"  I'll  show  you  some  time.  And,  look  here, 
Harry  Howe,  if  you  say  a  word  about  what 
I'm  going  to  do  I'll  thrash  you,  too." 

"  I'm  not  afraid  of  you,  Bi>n  Buffum,  big 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      275 

as  you  are,"  retorted  the  younger  boy  with 
spirit, 

"Well,  you'd  better  be.  If  I  should  hit 
you,  you'd  think  you  were  struck  by  light 
ning." 

"  If  there's  any  danger  of  it>  Ben,  I  guess 
I'll  carry  round  a  lightning-rod  with  me," 
laughed  Harry.  "  Well,  I  turn  off  here." 

"  I  don't  like  that  Harry  Howe,"  remarked 
Ben,  disapprovingly,  looking  after  the  smaller 
boy.  "  He's  too  flip." 

"  So  he  is.     He  ain't  so  respectful  to  you 

and  me  as  he'd  ought  to  be." 

*«*«**** 

Walter  had  not  failed  to  notice  the  half-re 
bellious  demeanor  of  his  two  oldest  pupils. 
Moreover,  he  had  been  warned  by  the  janitor 
of  the  building  that  they  would  be  likely  to 
give  him  trouble.  The  latter,  Mr.  Locke,  felt 
a  kindly  interest  in  Walter,  who  treated  him 
with  as  much  courtesy  as  if  he  were  the  chair 
man  of  the  board  of  trustees. 

"  I  am  afraid,  Mr.  Sherwood,"  he  said, 
"  that  you  will  have  trouble  with  Ben  Buffum 
and  Enoch  Snow.'' 

"  Have  they  the  reputation  of  being  trou 
blesome?  "  asked  Walter. 

"  That  they  have,  Their  own  parents  can't 
control  them." 


276      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

"  Did  Mr.  Hayward  have  trouble  with 
them?" 

"  No,  but  then  there  was  a  difference.  He 
was  a  tall,  robust  man,  and  forty  years  of  age. 
They  would  have  stood  small  chance  with  him. 
They  didn't  dare  to  rebel." 

"  And  you  think  they  may  rebel  against 
me?" 

"  I  am  afraid  they  will." 

"  I  don't  know  that  I  am  much  surprised 
at  what  you  tell  me.  In  the  four  days  that 
I  have  been  teaching  they  have  been  quiet,  but 
there  is  a  look  of  defiance  on  the  face  of  each, 
particularly  of  Ben  Buffum,  which  led  me  to 
think  they  were  only  biding  their  time." 

"  I  know  that  is  so,"  said  the  janitor  sig 
nificantly.  "  I  chanced  to  overhear  a  conver 
sation  between  them  yesterday.  Each  of 
them  thinks  he  is  a  match  for  you,  and  that 
if  you  undertook  to  punish  them  you  would 
get  the  worst  of  it.  I  don't  want  to  alarm 
you " 

"Do  I  look  alarmed?  "  asked  Walter  calmly. 

"  Well,  no,  but  I'm  almost  afraid  they  were 
right." 

"  You  think,  then,  that  either  one  of  them 
would  be  a  match  for  me?"  inquired  Walter, 
smiling.  , 

«  Well,  I  think  Ben  would.     He  is  a  little 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      277 

taller  than  you  and  must  weigh  at  least  fifteen 
to  twenty  pounds  more." 

"  I  think  he  does,"  responded  Walter, 
quietly,  "  but  it  isn't  always  height  or  weight 
that  tells." 

"  No,  but  they  count." 

"  True ;  has  Ben  ever  taken  lessons  in  box 
ing?  " 

"  No,  he  doesn't  know  anything  about  it." 

Walter  looked  well  pleased. 

"  But,"  continued  the  janitor,  "  he's  got  a 
powerful  grip,  and  he's1  a  mighty  good  wres 
tler." 

"  Of  course  that  is  in  his  favor.  I  don't 
care  to  fight  with  him." 

"  No,  it  might  be  imprudent." 

"  But  I  am  not  in  the  least  afraid  of  it.  I 
am  not  heavy  for  my  height,  but  I  am  wiry, 
and  I  have  had  training." 

"  I  hope  you'll  come  out  all  right,  Mr.  Sher 
wood.  If  there's  a  scrimmage  I  should  like 
to  help  you." 

"  I  hope  I  shall  not  need  assistance." 

But  Mr.  Locke  shook  his  head  as  Walter 
left  him.  "  He'll  have  a  hard  row  to  hoe,"  he 
said. 


278      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 


CHAPTER  XL. 

BEN  IS  SUBDUED. 

BEN  BUFFUM  was  biding  his  time.  He  had 
measured  the  young  teacher  with  his  eye,  and 
had  made  up  his  mind  that  physically  he  was 
himself  the  better  man.  He  could  triumph 
over  him  at  any  time,  and  need  not  feel  in  a 
hurry.  Indeed,  ten  days  had  passed  before 
he  decided  to  bring  on  the  crisis. 

In  the  seat  in  front  of  Ben  sat  Albert  Frost, 
a  much  smaller  boy.  He  was  a  pleasant,  good- 
natured  fellow,  and  a  general  favorite.  Per 
haps  on  this  account  he  was  subject  to  con 
siderable  teasing,  generally  friendly.  But 
Ben,  who  was  of  a  cruel  disposition,  had  gone 
beyond  the  bounds,  and  seriously  troubled  the 
younger  boy. 

One  day,  toward  the  close  of  the  afternoon, 
while  the  class  in  algebra  was  reciting,  a  loud 
shriek  was  heard,  proceeding  from  the  neigh 
borhood  of  Ben  Buffum's  desk. 

Walter  looked  up  suddenly  and  saw  Albert 
in  tears,  pressing  his  hand  on  the  calf  of  his 
leg. 

"  What  is  the  matter,  Albert?  "  asked  Wal 
ter. 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      279 

"  Ben  Buffum  stuck  a  pin  in  my  leg,"  an 
swered  the  boy. 

"  Is  that  true,  Burfum  ?  "  demanded  Wal 
ter  sternly. 

Ben  Buffum  was  leaning  back  in  his  seat 
with  a  defiant  look  on  his  face. 

u  Yes,  it  is,"  answered  Ben,  with  provoking 
calmness. 

Walter's  temper  was  stirred  by  the  contemp 
tuous  demeanor  of  his  scholar,  but  he  re 
strained  himself,  and  asked  in  his  ordinary 
tones:  "  Why  did  you  do  it?  '' 

"  Because  I  chose,"  answered  Ben,  looking 
WTalter  in  the  eye  and  enjoying  the  situation. 

"  Then,"  said  Walter,  giving  full  vent  to 
his  scorn,  "  you  are  a  contemptible  coward 
and  brute! " 

Ben  Buffum  had  never  been  addressed  in 
this  style,  and  his  face  flushed.  He  half  rose 
from  his  seat  and  growled : 

''  Why  am  I  a  coward,  I  sh'd  like  to  know?  " 

"  Because  you  have  played  a  cruel  trick  on 
a  boy  much  younger  and  smaller  than  your 
self.  But  you  forgot  one  thing." 

"  What  did  I  forget?  "  growled  Ben,  who 
was  the  more  angry  because  he  saw  that  his 
schoolmates,  with  the  exception  of  Enoch 
Snow,  sided  with  the  teacher. 

"  You  forget  that  in  this  schoolroom  I  ain 


280     Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

the  master,  and  consider  it  my  duty  to  defend 
my  pupils,  even  the  smallest,  from  the  violence 
of  brutes." 

Ben  was  rather  astonished  at  being  talked 
to  in  this  style.  It  looked  as  if  the  teacher 
was1  not  afraid  of  him. 

"  He'll  have  to  pay  for  this,"  he  muttered  to 
himself.  "  I  can  lick  you,  Walter !  "  he  said, 
with  an  insolent  leer. 

"  I  presume  it  is  because  you  think  so  that 
you  have  been  guilty  of  insubordination." 

"What  are  you  goin'  to  do  about  it?"  de 
manded  Ben  defiantly. 

"  I  propose  to  punish  you  for  your  misbe 
havior,"  answered  Walter  coolly. 

"  You  can't  do  it !  " 

He  had  hardly  got  the  words  out  of  his 
mouth  when  Walter  was  upon  him.  He  was 
wonderfully  quick  in  his  movements,  whereas 
Ben,  though  powerful,  was  slow,  and  before 
he  well  knew  what  was  going  to  happen  he 
was  dragged  by  the  collar  from  his  seat  into 
the  middle  of  the  floor.  Walter  let  go  for  a 
minute  and  Ben,  mad  all  over,  prepared  to 
grasp  him  in  a  bearlike  hug.  A  stinging  blow 
in  the  face  convinced  him  that  he  had  entirely 
underrated  the  powers'  of  the  teacher.  He 
tried  to  return  the  blow,  but,  unable  to  defend 
himself,  found  his  own  blow  parried,  and  an- 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      281 

other  planted  in  his  chest,  causing  him  to  stag 
ger.  Then  Ben  lost  all  caution  and  with  a 
furious  cry  rushed  upon  Walter,  in  the  hope 
of  throwing  him  down  by  wrestling.  But  in 
stead  he  found  himself  lying  on  his  back  on 
the  floor,  looking  up  at  the  teacher. 

Throughout  Walter  had  been  cool  and  col 
lected,  and  was  so  still.  When  he  saw  Ben 
was  down  he  drew  back  and  said,  "  You  can 
get  up  and  try  again  if  you  want  to." 

Ben  got  up  slowly  and  "  pitched  in  "  once 
more,  but  in  about  a  minute  he  found  him 
self  again  in  a  recumbent  position.  This  time 
his  head  struck  the  floor  rather  hard,  and  he 
felt  dazed. 

"  Have  you  had  enough  ?  "  asked  Walter. 

"  I  hit  my  head,"  answered  Ben,  in  a  sulky 
tone. 

"  I  hope  you  are  not  seriously  hurt,"  said 
Walter  quietty.  "  If  you  would  like  to  be  dis 
missed  now,  you  may  go.  I  shall  be  glad  to 
see  you  back  here  to-morrow.'' 

Without  a  word,  but  looking  intensely  mor 
tified,  Ben  took  his  hat  and  slunk  out  of  the 
room,  leaving  his  schoolmates  overwhelmed 
with  astonishment  at  his  sudden  and  appar 
ently  easy  discomfiture. 

When  he  had  gone  Walter  said,  "  Scholars, 
I  want  to  ask  of  you  a  favor.  Ben  is  mortified 


282      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

by  what  has  happened.  I  wish  you  would  all 
abstain  from  reminding  him  of  it.  In  that 
case  the  lesson  he  has  received  may  do  him 
good." 

This  speech  made  a  favorable  impression 
on  the  school.  The  pupils  saw  that  Walter, 
though  he  had  achieved  a  notable  victory,  had 
no  disposition  to  triumph  over  his  opponent. 

"  It's  lucky  it  wasn't  I,"  thought  Enoch,  who 
devoted  himself  to  his  studies  with  unusual 
assiduity  for  the  remainder  of  the  day,  and 
seemed  as  meek  and  submissive  as  if  he  had 
been  half-a-dozen  years  younger. 

The  next  day  Ben  Buffum  stayed  at  home, 
and  did  not  show  himself  on  the  street  till 
evening.  When  he  found  that  no  one  spoke  to 
him  of  the  affair  he  took  courage  to  go  to 
school  the  day  after.  Walter  overtook  him  on 
the  way  and  hailed  him  in  a  friendly  manner 
w;th: 

"  Good  morning,  Ben !  " 

"  Morning,"  answered  Ben  sheepishly. 

"  We  will  forget  all  about  that  little  affair 
day  before  yesterday,  Ben.  You  are  pretty 
strong." 

"  I  couldn't  do  nothin'  against  you." 

"  No,  because  I  have  taken  lessons  in  box 
ing.  If  I  had  let  you  get  hold  of  me  I  shouldn't 
have  got  off  so  easy." 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      283 

"  I'd  like  to  box." 

"  I  will  teach  you  on  one  condition." 

"What's  that?" 

"  That  you  won't  bully  any  smaller  boys. 
It  was  mean  to  hurt  Albert  Frost,  you  must, 
admit." 

"  I  didn't  mean  to  hurt  him  so  much,"  said 
Ben  apologetically. 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  it.  If  you'll  come  round 
and  see  me  this  evening,  Ben,  I'll  give  you  the 
first  lesson." 

"  All  right !    I'll  come,"  said  Ben  eagerly. 

"  And,  Ben,"  added  Walter,  smiling,  "  I 
don't  mind  your  calling  me  Walter  out  of 
school,  but  in  school  I  should  rather  you 
wouldn't." 

The  scholars  were  very  much  surprised  to 
see  Ben  and  the  teacher  walking  to  school  to 
gether,  evidently  on  the  most  friendly  terms, 
and  they  were  further  surprised  later  on  at 
the  wronderful  change  for  the  better  that  took 
place  in  the  once  rebellious  pupil. 


CHAPTER  XLI. 

CONCLUSION. 

MRS.  DEBORAH  SIMPKINS,  a  near  neighbor  of 
Doctor  Mack,  was  an  ill-natured  gossip,  and 


284      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

had  always  disliked  Walter  because  he  once  in 
terfered  to  prevent  a  boy  of  hers  from  abusing 
a  young  companion.  One  day  about  two 
months  later  she  put  on  her  bonnet  and  with 
a  smile  of  malicious  satisfaction  walked  over 
to  the  doctor's  house. 

"  How  do  you  do,  Mrs.  Sprague?  "  she  said. 
"  I  thought  I'd  run  over  and  have  a  chat  with 
you." 

"  Come  in,  Mrs.  Simpkins,"  said  Nancy 
civilly,  but  not  cordially,  for  she  did  not  like 
her  visitor. 

"  I've  got  something  unpleasant  to  tell  you," 
went  on  the  widow  as  she  sat  down  in  a 
rocker.  ."  I'm  awrful  sorry." 

"  Are  you?  "  said  Nancy  dryly.  "  What's  it 
all  about?" 

"  I  got  a  letter  from  my  niece  Sophrony,  out 
in  Iowa,  yesterday,  and  she  sent  me  a  cuttin' 
from  an  old  paper.  It's  somethin'  awful !  " 

"Is  it?" 

"  Yes,  and  it's  about  Walter  Sherwood ! " 
continued  Mrs.  Simpkins  triumphantly. 

"  He  hasn't  met  with  an  accident,  has  he?  " 
inquired  Nancy,  turning  pale. 

"  It's  wuss  than  that !  "  answered  the  widow, 
nodding  her  head  ominously. 

"  Worse  than  an  accident?  " 

"  Yes ;  leastways  I  call  it  so." 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      285 

"  Let  me  hear  it  then,  Mrs.  Simpkins." 
"  Here  'tis ;  you  can  read  it  for  yourself." 
This  was  the  paragraph : 

"  A  young  man  named  Walter  Sherwood 
was  arrested  yesterday  charged  with  stea-ing 
a  valuable  mare  belonging  to  Colonel  Richard 
Owen.  We  understand  his  trial  is  to  take 
place  this  morning." 

"When  is  the  paper  dated?"  asked  Nancy, 
who  did  not  appear  so  much  overcome  as  her 
visitor  expected. 

"  Over  two  months  since.  Walter  Sherwood 
is  probably  in  jail  now.  I  feel  for  you  and  the 
doctor,"  said  Mrs.  Simpkins,  in  a  tone  far 
from  sympathetic,  fixing  her  beadlike  eyes1  on 
the  housekeeper. 

"  That's  very  good  of  you,  but  as  we  got  a 
letter  from  Walter  yesterday  there  ain't  no 
call  to  be  troubled." 

"  Did  he  write  from  the  jail?  " 

"  Don't  be  a  fool,  Mrs.  Simpkins !  lie  wrote 
from  the  town  of  Shelby,  where  he  has  born 
teaching  a  classical  school,  and  he  inclosed  the 
program  of  the  exhibition.  Perhaps  you 
would  like  to  look  at  it." 

Mrs.  Simpkins  took  the  paper  and  looked 


286      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

intensely  disappointed  as  she  saw  that  Nancy 
Lad  only  told  the  truth. 

"  He  teach  school !  A  boy  like  him !  "  she 
ejaculated. 

"  Yes,  Mrs.  Simpkins,  and  it's  been  a  great 
success.  They  want  him  to  go  back  next  year, 
but  the  doctor  prefers  to  have  him  finish  out 
his  college  course.  We're  expecting  him  home 
every  day." 

There  was  a  noise  heard  as  of  the  front  door 
opening,  and  a  moment  later  Walter  was  in 
the  room. 

"  Oh,  Walter ! "  exclaimed  Nancy,  over 
joyed,  in  her  excitement  throwing  her  arms 
around  his  neck.  "  I'm  so  glad  to  see  you !  " 

"  And  I  am  glad  to  see  you,  Nancy.  How's 
my  guardian?  " 

"  He's  well,  and  will  be  home  soon." 

"  Good  afternoon,  Mrs1.  Simpkins,"  said 
Walter  politely. 

"  Mrs.  Simpkins  has  just  been  telling  me 
that  you  were  in  jail  for  horse-stealing,"  said 
Nancy.  "  She  is  much  pleased  to  find  it  all  a 
mistake." 

Walter  laughed. 

"  I  am  still  more  pleased,"  he  remarked.  "  I 
find  school-teaching  much  pleasanter." 

"  I  guess  I  must  be  goin',"  said  Mrs.  Simp- 
kins  hurriedly, 


Walter  Sherwood's  Probation.      287 

When  Doctor  Mack  returned  he  welcomed 
Walter  with  a  joy  not  inferior  to  that  of  his 
housekeeper. 

"  And  so  you  have  succeeded?  "  he  said. 

"Yes;  the  trustees  of  the  Shelby  Classical 
School  want  me  to  come  back,  as  my  prede 
cessor  has  accepted  a  position  in  New  York. 
But  I  think  I  had  better  return  to  college  and 
finish  out  my  course.  I  have  a  thousand  dol 
lars  saved  up,  and  a  little  more,  and  I  think 
with  economy  I  can  pay  my  own  way  for  the 
remainder  of  the  course." 

"  It  won't  be  necessary,  Walter." 

"  But,  as  my  property  is  lost " 

"  You  must  forgive  me,  Walter,  for  deceiv 
ing  you,  but  you  have  just  as  much  property 
as  ever — indeed  more,  as  you  only  drew  one 
hundred  dollars  in  the  past  year.'' 

k<  But,  doctor,  why,  then,  did  you  lead  me 
to  think  otherwise?  " 

"  It  wasn't  altogether  a  falsehood.  About 
a  hundred  dollars  had  been  lost  in  an  invest 
ment,  and  I  made  that  a  pretext  for  withdraw 
ing  you  from  college.  I  saw  that  you  were 
wasting  your  time  and  acquiring  expensive 
habits,  so  I  thought  the  best  remedy  would  be 
a  year  of  active  life,  in  which  you  would  be 
thrown  upon  your  own  resources." 

"  You  are  right,  doctor.    It  has  made  a  man 


288      Walter  Sherwood's  Probation. 

of  me.  I  shall  go  back  to  old  Euclid  and  work 
in  earnest.  I  have  been  a  teacher  myself,  and 
I  understand  what  a  teacher  has  a  right  to  ex 
pect  from  his  pupils." 

"  Then  my  experiment  has  been  a  success1, 
and  your  year  of  probation  has  done  you 
good." 

"  I  hope  to  prove  it  to  you,  my  dear  guar 
dian." 

Walter  returned  to  college,  and  two  years 
later  graduated,  valedictorian  of  his  class. 
The  money  he  had  earned  in  his  year  of  proba 
tion  he  devoted  to  helping  the  needy  members 
of  his  class  to  obtain  an  education.  Gates 
alone  received  three  hundred  dollars,  and  it 
saved  the  poor  fellow  from  leaving  college  a 
year  before  graduation.  Walter  intends  to 
study  law,  and  it  is  predicted  that  he  will  win 
success  at  the  bar.  For  whatever  success  he 
may  achieve,  he  will  ,be  inclined  to  give  the 
credit  to  his  year  of  probation. 

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